The rv refrigeration on your RV is responsible for keeping all of your food and drinks nice and cold, but have you ever wondered exactly how that happens? In this article we’ll take a closer look at the science behind your fridge so that you have a better understanding of what goes on inside to keep your 6-pack cold.
RV Refrigerators
The vast majority of rv refrigerators are absorption fridges (also known as ‘ice box’ fridges) and they use a combination of heat and chemical reactions to cool your foods. The chemical mixture consists of water, ammonia, and hydrogen gas (sometimes also helium).
To begin the cooling process, high-pressure liquid refrigerant is forced through an expansion valve or small hole into a larger tube. This lowers the pressure to boiling temperature, and as the liquid boils it takes the heat with it (and turns to vapor). The vapor is then drawn through a series of coils in the fridge compartment where it cools everything down – starting in the freezer. This is where a thermometer in the fridge comes in handy since you want your refrigerator to be at an optimal temperature for food safety, about 40 degrees F or below.
Some RVs are equipped with ‘2-way’ or ‘3-way’ absorption fridges which can run on both electricity (via the RV batteries) and propane. This is especially useful for those who primarily camp off-grid as it allows you to choose whether to run your fridge on electric while driving, and then switch over to propane while parked, so that you don’t drain your RV battery. rv refrigeration