The compressor is the most important part of a refrigerator. In this simple guide, we shall find out about the types of compressors and their benefits. A compressor is an air conditioning device. It uses the circulating air from a compressor unit to drive coolant through an alternator which is an electric motor and generator.
The compressors in a refrigerator perform two important functions:
- It takes the heat and converts it into usable energy. It is the primary function of a compressor, which converts the heat of a container into usable energy.
- It holds the warm air inside the refrigerator. It is a secondary function.
Types of the compressor are used in the domestic refrigerator:
Various types of compressors are used in the domestic refrigerator, depending on its purpose. In the domestic refrigerator, three main types of compressors are used:
Gas compressor (inorganic materials):
It is not common. It uses liquid nitrogen gas to compress the coolant and the refrigeration coil to enable good air circulation in the refrigerator. It is the most common type of compressor. This type of compressor only has a maximum capacity of 200 watts.
Glass compressor (organic materials):
The glass compressor has many names, such as grid compressor, retort compressor, open cooler, etc. Its output is of the same power as a gas compressor, but it has an extremely small size (only 1 x 0.5 inch, or about 0.9 x 0.1 cm) and is much easier to work with.
Electrostatic compressor (coil-based material):
The main disadvantage of this compressor is its low-temperature capability. It can work with -140 to -400 F (50 to 40 degrees Celsius). Because it is so small and delicate, it is often difficult to repair and maintain.
Listed below are the pros and cons of each type of compressor:
Gas compressor (inorganic materials):
Pros:
- It is relatively inexpensive.
- It is very easy to repair.
- You can easily adjust the temperature of the refrigerator.
- The fan is silent.
- It is easy to adjust the temperature of the refrigerator.
- It is cheaper than the glass compressor.
Cons:
- It does not run at the maximum capacity.
- The fan and compressor together are very noisy.
- When working with a fridge with a much smaller range of operating temperatures, the gas compressor cannot work in this case.
Glass compressor (organic materials):
Pros:
- It is relatively expensive.
- It works at high temperatures.
- It is more reliable than the glass compressor.
Cons:
- The fan is very loud.
- It has a low-temperature capability.
- When working with a much smaller range of operating temperatures, it is difficult to work with.
Electrostatic compressor (coil-based material):
Pros:
- It is relatively cheap.
- It works at high temperatures.
- It is more reliable than the glass compressor.
Cons:
- When working with a refrigerator with a small range of operating temperatures, this compressor is usually quite slow.
- When working with a refrigerator that has a low-temperature capability, it is difficult to work with.