Solar Powered Refrigerators

solar power refrigerators are usually of the absorption type as you can concentrate the heat onto an absorption heater far more efficiently that you can make electricity and run a compressor or peltier device. However they also make gas compression type and peltier types. It depends on many factor. Absorption are heavy and complex but efficient and can use hot sun or hot flue gasses,

peltier are inefficient but are very simple mechanically and are lighter, then never break

Compressor type are also more complex and efficient. the complexity comes at a cost in maintenance. If one breaks, there will not be a local fix, same with absoprtion.

Peltier are robust and as long as you do not melt the peltier junction they will endure

They usually have very thich urethane foam walls to retain cold.

Many people make them. Vaccine guys use them all the time

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=%22solar+powered+refrigerator%22&btnG=Google+Search

The absorption type refrigerator is likely the best choice for direct conversion to cooling. Almost all commercial models used by consumers suffer from the same fault. Insufficient insulation! Peltier cells can only create a 40C differential from ambient. In military applications where cost is not an issue, double stacked peltier cells can achieve an 80C differential below ambient but these are expensive to manufacture and still rely on some electrical generation. Thus more expense and technical complication. As long as condensation moisture collection on the piping is avoided, the absorption system offers the least maintenance of any system and initial cost is comparable to the other systems. I would recommend you plan on supplementing the factory installed insulation with something extra for hot locations. My own experience with absorption type refrigerators suggest they are less affected by high ambient temperatures than the other types.

elnav

Thanks, now, next obvious question is : where do I get it from?

Nachi

Try this link. They work.

http://www.norcoast.com.au/