A report in the Daily Mail suggests that the 'green' CFC-free refrigerators introduced over the last decade or two harbor unforeseen dangers.
A series of violent fridge explosions is believed to have been caused by leaks of 'environmentally-friendly' coolant.
Safety standards for manufacturers might have to be reviewed following the blasts, which have destroyed several kitchens.
At least four similar explosions have been reported in the last three years in the UK, two of them since May.
The problem appears to result from a widespread switch to 'Greenfreeze' technology over the past 15 years and the use of isobutane and propane hydrocarbon gases as refrigerants. Previously CFCs and HFCs were used in fridges but these gases damaged the ozone layer and contributed significantly to global warming.
There are now more than 300 million Greenfreeze fridges around the world. They are designed with safety features to ensure the flammable natural gas inside the pipework cannot leak into the fridge. However, if this happens there is a risk of a powerful blast as the gas could be ignited by a spark when the thermostat switches off.
Graeme Fox, an air-conditioning and refrigeration contractor, said: 'During the day when the fridge door is frequently opened there isn't a problem.
'But at night, when everyone is sleeping and the door remains shut, this leaked highly flammable gas can build up in the fridge cabinet.'
There's more at the link.
So . . . 'greenfreeze' refrigerators remove the risk of damage to the environment from CFC's, but can cause explosive damage to your property - and perhaps you, if you're unfortunate enough to be nearby when they let go! Tell me again what a good idea this was?
Peter
Umm... using Greenpeace logic... killing the consumer is better than killing the planet. (and don't get me started on the global warming crap).
ReplyDeleteMight be a bit hazardous to all concerned (residents, firefighters, etc.) in the event of a fire, too.
ReplyDeleteFour explosions out of 300 millions units in the past 3 years, that's a pretty good record. Compared to, oh say cars or lawnmowers or furnaces, etc., etc..
ReplyDeleteIsobutane and propane as refrigerants are very good and very safe when contained and sealed properly. Leaks are rare in modern refrigerators and thermostat switches are supposed to be enclosed, reducing the danger of sparks.
This is a subject I happen to be rather knowledgeable about and while "accidents" does happen in rare cases, it's a very safe technology.
Please don't spread fear-mongering that could kill off very useful refrigerants.
Sorry, but I do NOT want any flammable "refrigerants" in my refrigerator, thank you very much.
ReplyDelete*Regardless* of the "statistics," (think lies, damn lies, and statistics), I have seen plenty of refrigerators over the years that have developed refrigerant leaks, and so I choose to not become one of those statistics when the damn thing explodes due to a leak.
Just another example of how the left-wing "cure" is worse than the supposed "disease."
chicopanther
Back in the 1950s I had an ammonia refrigerant refrigerator using kerosene to run it. It look like any normal refrigerator but had a door at the bottom holding the kerosene tank.
ReplyDeleteI had to fill the tank every week or so, light the wick, adjust the flame to just right to get the refrigerant cycle to start. Ran fine for many years. Bought it new for $25 at our army surplus store. It was finally disposed of in the 1970s.
CFCs are similar to anthro global warming. Plenty of hype, but little substance. I guess the hole in Antarctica wasn't as attractive, or someone had a better hold on resources, since it never got the attention AGW got.
ReplyDeleteMuch like AGW, they never proved the hole wasn't a result of a natural cycle, nor did they ever find CFCs in the stratosphere. Having a large volcano down there that spits out thousands of tons of chlorine gas a year doesn't help either.
The kicker for me was always this: CloroFluoroCarbons are large, heavy molecules. How do you expect something denser than the nitro-oxy atmosphere to get up into the stratosphere, and stay there? And assuming that heavier-than-air molecules make it up unassisted into the stratosphere, why is the thinning trend only evident at the south pole?
ReplyDeleteThe industrialized nations that are the main sources of these chemicals are all in the northern hemisphere, which by global air currents should mean that the ozone would be gone at the North Pole, not the south... except that the most likely place for hot air to rise is right along the equator to the tropics of capricorn and cancer, so why don't we see the thinning there, instead of only where the air sinks at the pole - and only at the south one?