Einstein refrigerator

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Einstein and Szilárd's patent application.

The Einstein refrigerator is a type of refrigerator co-invented in 1926 by Albert Einstein and former student Leó Szilárd, who were awarded U.S. Patent 1,781,541 on November 11, 1930. The machine is a single-pressure absorption refrigerator, similar in design to the gas absorption refrigerator. The refrigeration cycle uses ammonia (pressure-equalizing fluid), butane (refrigerant), and water (absorbing fluid). It has been claimed that the Einstein refrigerator is portable, made of inexpensive, nonmoving parts, operates silently, and is very reliable. However, ammonia leaks caused problems among the earlier models, and whether it can cool things adequately is unknown.

Einstein undertook this invention as a way of helping along his former student. He used the knowledge he had acquired during his years at the Swiss Patent Office to get solid patents for the invention in several countries. The refrigerator was not immediately put into commercial production, but rights to use the patents were sold to companies such as Electrolux of Sweden, and the funds obtained supported Szilárd for several years. Electrolux manufactures a similar Gas-absorption refrigerator design invented by Baltzar von Platen and Carl Munters in 1922 under the brand name Dometic.

[edit] See also

Refrigeration
Refrigeration cycle
Rudolf Goldschmidt (for the Einstein-Goldschmidt hearing aid)

[edit] References

Dannen, Gene. "The Einstein-Szilard Refrigerator". Scientific American. January 1997. 6 pages.
Einstein, A., L. Szilard, "Refrigeration" (Appl: 16 December 1927; Priority: Germany, 16 December 1926) U.S. Patent 1781541 , 11 November 1930.
Einstein, A., L. Szilard, "Accompanying notes and remarks for Pat. No. 1,781,541". Mandeville Special Collections Library USC. Box 35, Folder 3, 1927; 52 pages.
Einstein, A., L. Szilard, "Improvements Relating to Refrigerating Apparatus." (Appl: 16 December. 1927; Priority: Germany, 16 December 1926). Patent Number 282,428 (United Kingdom). Complete accept.: 5 November 1928.

[edit] External links

Delano, Andrew, "Design Analysis of the Einstein Refrigeration Cycle". Georgia Institute of Technology. June 1998.
Goettling, Gary, "Einstein Refrigerator".
Flanigan, Allen, * uni-oldenburg.de (german site) A workgroup of the University Oldenburg is beginning to rebuild the original concept—i.e., a total mass of around 400 kg and alcohol in the refrigeration cycle. Project completion is scheduled during 2005.
Patent document US1781541 (European Patent Office)
Patent document GB282428 (European Patent Office)