Compact Refrigerators

For frequent travelers who desire to keep their food hot or cold on the go, a compact refrigerator is just the thing. These miniature refrigeration units function both as a cooler and a food heater. They are usually plugged into a car's 12-volt cigarette lighter socket for the cooling power of a 10-pound block of ice. The foam insulation can keep food both cool and warm, depending on its needs. Compact refrigerators can also be used at home, in the office or in any other location where there is a power supply.

A compact refrigerator functions differently as compared to a domestic refrigerator. It incorporates the mechanics that are seldom found in home refrigerators. The cooling system is compact and needs to fit into a small space. The DC current is run through a heat sink to dissipate or contain heat within the container. A powered fan moves air through the space to prevent dissipation. In a domestic refrigerator the use of gas is involved which circulates through the interior absorbing heat and radiating it from the back.

Compact refrigerators are considered as space savers and are perfect when you need a refrigerator, but don't have the room for a full-size model. They are ideal for an office, car or a small apartment. They are a good solution if you need counter-height refrigerator and freezer accessibility.

Today's compact refrigerators are much more sophisticated than they once were. Many brands offer stylish exteriors and interior storage options such as adjustable door storage, full-width freezer compartments, and large crisper drawers with see-through covers for better visibility. Compact refrigerators are easy to transport and inexpensive to buy and maintain.

Fortunately, today's refrigerators are better energy performers than older models. Superior design, more efficient compressors and better insulation and door seals all help improve energy efficiency. It is one key feature to look for while purchasing a compact refrigerator.

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An Introduction To Refrigerators

From keeping our veggies fresh, to storing our favorite ice creams and juices, refrigerators have become essential for modern day living.

The first refrigerators, so to say, were built as ice houses. These buildings consisted of man-made underground chambers, which were built close to natural sources of winter ice such as freshwater lakes. During winter, this ice and snow would be packed into the ice house along with straw or sawdust that was used for insulation. The ice house kept the ice intact for several months on end, even through summer.

Many countries claim to be the home of the refrigerator. Over the years, refrigerator technology has evolved in leaps and bounds. One of the first home refrigeration units was installed at Biltmore Estate in North Carolina in around 1895. That same year, the first commercial refrigeration unit was opened by the Vestey Brothers in London.

Modern day refrigerators primarily work on electric power, although some of the older models use gas as a source of energy. Today, a domestic refrigerator is present in 99.5% of American homes. It works using phase change heat pumps operating in a refrigeration cycle. An industrial refrigerator is simply a refrigerator used in an industrial setting, usually in a restaurant or supermarket where large quatities of food stocks are stored. They may consist of either a cooling compartment (a larger refrigerator), a freezing compartment (a freezer) or both. The dual compartment was introduced commercially by General Electric in 1939. Some refrigerators are now divided into four zones for the storage of different types of food at different temperatures.

Refrigerators have become an essential part of our daily life. They have taken their place in almost every space of life, from homes and restaurants to offices and airports. It is now considered a home support system, without which a daily visit to the grocery store would be unavoidable.

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