The Ultimate in Wood-Burning Appliances: A Green Refrigerator

By The Mother Earth News Editors
Published on January 1, 1976
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Photo By Fotolia/Jaroslav Machacek
Converting your regular refrigerator to a wood-burning appliance is just one more creative way to "go green."

In Response to The Wood Burning Alternative Refrigerator Project.

I’m not sure, but I think Dale Degler’s going to blow his head off with that wood-burning contraption! These fridges are designed to be used with a small flame. When you hit them with intense heat — such as that of the wood fire you pictured — you’re going to boil the water, not only lowering efficiency to the point where the machine won’t work, but building up steam pressure in the unit to destructive levels.

BOOM! Thar’ she blows! And the explosion will have an added bonus, lots of ammonia, a toxic compound.

H. Hartzog. Bellingham, Wash.

You’re right, H . but only partway. The intermittent absorption refrigerator does work. In fact, the “Icy-Ball” model (also mentioned in the article), was a widely used, dependable commercial product. And it was heated by being placed over a fire.  

However, our illustration of the unit’s inner workings was somewhat more poetic than accurate, As you say, nobody should set the ammonia-water pan right next to a giant blaze like the one pictured. Application of heat to a wood-burning  fridge should be gentle and predictable. The whole point of the system, after all, is to boil the ammonia without boiling the water.

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