Hacker News

Favorites Setup
Comment by VladVladikoff | original | The Einstein-Szilard Refrigerator (2020)
[−]VladVladikoff · 2026-08-30 Sun 13:40 UTC · link
Man WTH? Now I want one. I hate how loud my fridge is!
[−]HPsquared · 2026-08-30 Sun 13:59 UTC · link
They're not energy efficient so I'm not sure that type of fridge is available to buy now.
[−]lstodd · 2026-08-30 Sun 14:13 UTC · link
Energy efficiency is secondary, that can be mitigated by solar power plus some thermal mass inside. That is actually most efficient use of solar from my pow.

Their bane is hydrogen partial pressure dropping due to it leaking through the metal of the tubes. That .. is problematic. OTOH it'll last for like 20 years before you'd need to replenish.

[−]RobGR · 2026-08-30 Sun 16:18 UTC · link
The Einstein-Szilard device doesn't use hydrogen, did the USSR device use it ?