Homemade clay refrigerator - BEING ECOFRIENDLY ! by Chitlange Sahas

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Hi, I am Sahas Chitlange , aging 14 , from India . Here's my new innovation on fridge from clay. Its very easy and

cheap to build and very cheap. In india the cost is about  Rs. 300 only. The project's principle is based on

evaporation. you can take this system for camping where you need a fridge to keep your cokes cool. The

materials required for making this easy fridge are:

1) Clay pots

2) some sand

3) water

For the first time to get the cooling effect you need to wait for 10-12 hrs. The thing you need to remember is

adding water after a day.

Step 1: Chose correct pots

You need to chose correct size pots so that they go into each other easily. Prefer new ones because old ones

have their pores blocked. This affects cooling.

Step 2: Adding sand

Add some sand in the base of the larger pot. You may close the pot holes. I did not.  You may also heat the sand

strongly to kill the germs as in India you get the sand on roadsides!

Step 3: Insert the smaller pot

Now insert the smaller pot in the larger one. Take care you may get your hands jammed during this process. I got

once, Very painfull...

Also see that you have some gap left on the sides , you need to add sand there later.

Step 4: Add sand to the sides

Carefully add sand on the sides of the pot. Avoid spilling it into the smaller pot , its very difficult to get that stuff out

once spilled in ! Also add some water after you add sand.

Step 5: Cover it

You can make a cover out of old pots as i did or simply cover it with a damp cloth.

Step 6: Enjoy cooling

Its the time to enjoy cooling.

103

rimar2000 says:Nov 14, 2013. 7:59 AMReply

Excellent work! I certify that these simple water based coolers are surprisingly effective.

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oakback in reply to rimar2000Nov 15, 2013. 7:53 AMReply

Only if the humidity is low. I always get excited reading about these and "swamp coolers", but when it's hot in my area,

it's always very humid as well. Evaporative cooling doesn't work here! (Florida)

astral_mage in reply to oakbackNov 16, 2013. 7:12 AMReply

actually it can work prpoerly if u do yr research. many of the native tribes in the florida belt did the same thing but with

larger pots. there are many examples that remain intact even to this day.

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Steamcrunk in reply to astral_mageNov 17, 2013. 11:26 AMReply

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ManifoldSky in reply to SteamcrunkNov 17, 2013. 1:45 PMReply

Being that at no point in his comment here did astral_mage do that, I am at a loss as to what you believe your point is. 

Feel free to quote where he does.

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Steamcrunk in reply to ManifoldSkyNov 17, 2013. 2:55 PMReply

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Steamcrunk in reply to astral_mageNov 17, 2013. 11:25 AMReply

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VadimS in reply to rimar2000Nov 14, 2013. 4:05 PMReply

http://www.the-snowman.com/wetbulb2.html 

These types of coolers will keep the inside at just above the wet bulb temperature. 

If the part of the world you live in has low humidity it's perfect (swap coolers for home cooling work on the same

principle).

vincent7520 says:Nov 17, 2013. 2:18 PMReply

Great. 

This is the basic cooling system by evaporation? And let me tell you, it works great ! 

The same idea has been use by putting large jars full of water in egyptian house where the could pass a stream of air

that was cooled by passing between the jars and the refreshed ai cooled the house. The technique worked for centuries

in Egypt and other countries in the region …  

In rural France (before the 40's I saw many butter jars that prevented butter from melting by covering the butter pot with

a cover that that was designed to contain water that could evaporate. 

You certainly will not get a chilling effect … but it will keep food and dairy stables at a reasonable temperature under

strong heat. 

The basic ot what on may call "pottery refrigeration" is to use non varnished pottery for you can soak the part you want to

be evaporated first in the water (ie cover) Ideally no varnished pottery should be used at all because … the higher the

evaporation rate the more efficient the system will be

sdartnut says:Nov 17, 2013. 1:13 PMReply

Thanks for sharing this. I think I have seen something smaller for keeping butter cool on hot days. 

Your instructions were well presented.

3

Steamcrunk says:Nov 14, 2013. 7:36 PMReply

Neat instructables. So it will keep veggies like tomatoes and ginger, as well as yogurt cool?

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Chitlange Sahas (author) in reply to SteamcrunkNov 14, 2013. 8:45 PMReply

Yes ofcourse! It will cool down everything (exept icecreams).

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Steamcrunk in reply to Chitlange SahasNov 17, 2013. 11:23 AMReply

well done, I love it.

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onemoroni1 says:Nov 17, 2013. 10:20 AMReply

This is a good instructable. Thank you for sharing.

jacobpv says:Nov 17, 2013. 7:53 AMReply

how long it will take to get the required low temperature???

BCWatson says:Nov 17, 2013. 7:01 AMReply

Very good instructions! Could you explain a little how this works.

devangs3 says:Nov 17, 2013. 6:53 AMReply

I use a similar one at home, it seems similar to a traditional arrangement in our locality. Still, its good work :)

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nreed4 says:Nov 15, 2013. 4:19 PMReply

Could you use salt and water to lower the temperature even further?

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diy_bloke in reply to nreed4Nov 16, 2013. 2:45 AMReply

I am not sure if salt and water would make a difference. The principle here is evaporation and salt does not do anything

for that, might even harm it. 

The reason why salt-water combo can get cold is because salt lowers the freezing point so the water can get colder

(below zero) before it turns to ice, but in itself it does not cool at all

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Chitlange Sahas (author) in reply to nreed4Nov 15, 2013. 9:01 PMReply

Will try

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diy_bloke says:Nov 16, 2013. 2:43 AMReply

Great Idea Chitlange

BG_instructs says:Nov 15, 2013. 6:49 AMReply

Greatm whats the science behind this?

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PS118 in reply to BG_instructsNov 15, 2013. 2:38 PMReply

The phase change (water evaporation) consumes heat energy and cools the pot. Similar principle to how sweating helps

us cool off.

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PS118 in reply to BG_instructsNov 15, 2013. 2:34 PMReply

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot-in-pot_refrigerator

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marcellahella says:Nov 14, 2013. 10:52 AMReply

Cool! How much water do you pure in? All the way full?

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Chitlange Sahas (author) in reply to marcellahellaNov 14, 2013. 7:02 PMReply

Not all the way full ! Jut providing the inner pot a damp environment.

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Chitlange Sahas (author) in reply to marcellahellaNov 14, 2013. 7:02 PMReply

Not all the way full ! Jut providing the inner pot a damp environment.

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SonicLoverSeth says:Nov 14, 2013. 5:58 PMReply

Very cool (forgive the pun)! How low does the temperature get inside the clay refrigerator?

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Chitlange Sahas (author) in reply to SonicLoverSethNov 14, 2013. 7:00 PMReply

Will give you the exact reading by putting a digital thermometer .

mnmama says:Nov 14, 2013. 3:41 PMReply

Nice instructable Chitlange. I'd heard of these, and thought how useful it would be when camping and no electricity, but

didn't know how to put one together. Thank you.