raw · papers · ingested 2026-07-02
An ammonia-carbon solar refrigerator for vaccine cooling (Critoph, Renewable Energy 1994)
confidence: medium
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0960148194904243
Source: Critoph, Renewable Energy 5(1):502–508 (1994). Authoritative primary; full text paywalled. Credibility: Medium (abstract-level here; canonical reference).
Key points
- Carbon/ammonia minimal build: 1.4 m² collector, 17 kg active carbon, up to 4 kg ice/day (~2.9 kg/m²); off-grid vaccine cooling.
- Pair trade-off: ammonia runs above atmospheric → leaks easy to detect, no deep vacuum, but pressure-rated plumbing required; ammonia is toxic + corrosive.
- COP ~0.05 — lower than carbon/methanol.
- Defines the ammonia branch of the “simplest viable build” and the pressure/safety contrast that picks the pair.