SolarChill - Fridge for intermittant power

[SherryMayo]

I'd been pondering that the best way to make a fridge for solar (or other intermittant) power would be to have one that froze ice packs (or similar) in compartments during the day which would keep the fridge cool overnight. This avoids the need to have batteries to store energy by "storage cooling" instead.

Naturally like all my best ideas, someone else has had it first!:? A quick look at the net found the Solarchill http://www.solarchill.org/ running off 3x60W panels Currently intended for remote 3rd world use but they are anticipating that these will be taken up for wider domestic applications. Right now its just a prototype for which the designs/technology will be made freely available to manufacturers.

This illustrates a useful design principle in thinking about using renewables - eg thinking about what you are trying to do with the energy (eg keeping food cold 24/7) rather than getting fixated on the need for lots of electrical power. There are many ways to skin a cat!

[fishertrop]

Also see http://www.sundanzer.com/