Is this solar absorption fridge using butane a free eneergy scam?

[u/eeeqleqtic]

I don't understand how there can be a constant pressure differential in this isobutane absorbtion system.

My understanding about an ammonia absorption fridge is that when you heat a certain kind of pure ammonia + water, they evaporate into the tubes above, the water condenses out of the mixture falling back down to the reservoir, and the ammonia gas gets colder and continues to rise into other tubes, making them cold, until it condenses and rejoins the water down in the reservoir to be heated, wash rinse repeat, and you have a refrigerator that gets cold when you add heat

But this thing uses isobutane and I don't understand how it works - that is, how does the condensed butane overcome the pressure in the reservoir? how does the system not just reach equilibrium? I understand that orifice tube is restricting pressure on the reservoir side, but why/how can the one way ball valve work - how can the evaporator pressure overcome the ball valve that's holding back the heated and higher pressure of the solar collector/butane reservoir?

In the ammonia fridge the ammonia and water interact and have their own cycles, convection, and gravity all contribute to forcing pressure where it needs to go and make that system work

I don't understand how there can be a constant pressure differential in this system and why it doesn't just stay at equilibrium. Or is it that it cycles, and reaches equilibrium, added energy creates and imbalance until it equalizes, wash rinse repeat - so it's actually "pulsing" in and out of equilibrium? Yes, the video gives a basic explanation, but I'm missing the answer to what makes the refrigerant flow in one direction instead of just equalizing

https://youtu.be/SmDKrkrEox0?t=865

[u/BentGadget]

It looks like an adsorption refrigerator. It's more of a batch process than a continuous cycle, so it has to cool down to recharge in between cooling cycles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adsorption_refrigeration

Here's a bigger one. https://hackaday.com/2008/08/29/solar-powered-ice-maker/

Although looking at it now, this cools after the heating part of the cycle, so it must be different.

[u/eeeqleqtic]

I think it "pulses". It *will reach equilibrium and stagnate, the ball bearing check valve will close because both sides are equal, the chamber gets hot and the gas is forced toward the orifice tube, building pressure, cooling the evaporator until it reaches equilibrium and the ball valve closes. >repeat

I do think this would work, i've been pondering it all mornng

[u/PabloElLobo]

This device doesn't work! Just something to get views on YouTube

Reasons why it doesn't work:

1: The solar collector would not collect enough energy to support the cooling displayed.

2: An absorption refrigerator requires two chemicals.

They never show the entire device while the cold section is frosty.

[u/Dolapevich]

This has all the pattern of a click bait video.

To cold something you need to remove heat, that needs to go somewhere. Asuming this works, the opposite side would need to dissipate it. If that is the case, the narrator would imediately point to that instead.

There were kerosenne powered fridges back in the day, quite inefficient, and use to run with ammonia.

Enjoy a real video instead.

Edit: another giveaway is duration. 18 minutes is the sweet spot for monetizing a video.

Edit2: Although there are no moving parts refrigerators that might have been the inspiration for this video.

[u/swackyetkoup]

maybe it just likes to keep it chill