The Wind Powers This Refrigerator

The Wind Powers This Refrigerator FARM HOME Kitchen 5-5-26 A college physics professor in Iowa has invented an in-ground "refrigerator" kept cold by wind power. "Works great," says Prof. Bob Franklin of Westmar College, Lemars, Iowa. His wind-powered refrigerator, invented for use in under-developed countries, could be adapted to most any remote area where electricity is unavailable. Salvaged hardware was used, including truck differential and axle at the top of the tower. The two-bladed system follows the wind by use of a small turbine for correcting direction. A vertical shaft transfers power to the base of the tower, operating a refrigeration compressor. An insulated pit in the ground contains six 13.8 by 38 in. tractor innertubes, stacked in the pit, and filled with water and copper tubing that carries in coolant from the compressor, freezing the water and keeping food items in the "ice box" cool. Franklin told FARM SHOW that the system, built under special grant, is made mostly of salvaged used materials. The inner tubes are insulated from the ground and, once frozen, they keep the "refrigerator" cold for about two weeks. More insulation, Franklin notes, might extend the time two more weeks, which could be important during windless seasons. An 18-20 MPH wind, creating about 3 hp, is required to operate the system. Franklin notes that a 20 MPH wind has about eight times the power of a 10 MPH wind. A packet of information on design of the system, including several drawings showing mechanism detail, is available from Franklin at a cost of $2. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Prof. Bob Franklin, Route 5, Lemars, Iowa 51031 (ph 712 546-6876).

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