1904 Steam Powered Ammonia Compressor

[unillenium]

What kinda net refrigeration effect did a turn of the century system even achieve? I imagine not a whole lot.

[okbridges]

@unillenium

In the case of this engine, when they say 72 tons, it means it had the BTU capacity to produce 72 tons of ice in 24 hours. One ton is 12,000 BTU per hour. Your average window AC unit is about 6,000-8,000 BTU per hour. Your average central AC for a 1500 square-foot house is 2.5-3.5 tons. They made machines that would range from 1 to over 200 tons of refrigeration in the 1890's. In other words, this machine had a lot of refrigeration effect.

[salserops]

this huge chiller is run by a 7hp motor? wow!! That means we could air condition every house in America with a 1/2 motor electric motor and ammonia or lithium bromide absorption chiller.

[piersa2001]

The motor only spins it around for exhibition purposes. It is not actually pumping anything.

[shanes66charger]

@piersa2001 why isnt it run with steam? this must be a full-time exhibit? at our annual 'shows'  we run em' like they were intended.

[shieldcracker]

Water for shure, as it was the preffered method of rejecting heat in the condenser those days.

[mamacoke]

What did they cool with it?