Smallest evaporator plate for fridge?

[webcraft]

.
I have a small space I want to turn into a fridge. I have found a high-performance polystyrene box with 5cm insulation that would fit in the space with the option to fit a little more insulation round it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/THERM-BOX-Profibox/dp/B01KWBZT34?th=1

The interior space is only 30cm x 20cm x 22cm (13.2l)

The smallest evaporator plate I can find is considerably too big to fit the box - particularly when I may have to line it with 6mm ply to fasten the plate to.
(The Isothrm GE80 does up to 80 litres, but is 250mm (H) x 350mm (L) . I could do with one designed for a maximum (say) of 40l that is half that area)

Anyone know of one or have any ideas?


- W

 

[Yngmar]

Some are designed to be bent around a corner. Mostly that's the bigger ones though.

Otherwise the only one that fits would be the Dometic VD-07: https://www.force4.co.uk/dometic-vd-07-series-50-o-plate.html

And that further limits the available space and use by splitting it into a freezer and refrigerator section.

Since the space is so tiny, I think you could skimp on the insulation in order to gain a little bit more space inside. The small area will still be easily refrigerated by a BD35 type compressor and power needs wouldn't be astronomical.

 

[superheat6k]

You could make an evaporator coil. Take a close look at say a domestic or similar and gauge the tube size embedded inside the plate, and measure ~ how long the embedded tube is.

Then obtain some similar size tube and wrap the same length x 1.5 in a spiral around the edge of the space you wish to cool. The lack of plate surface will largely be compensated by the smaller volume you are trying to cool, and increase the tube length by ~50%, so the refrigerant can evaporate adequately.

To one end braze a capillary tube, again measure the approx length of the original on the same Dometic ( or similar), the outlet end simply routes to the compressor.

Mount the stat sensor inside the cool box in a similar mode to the Dometic. The box being smaller will cool faster, so simply the compressor will cut out earlier.

When charging simply add gas until the evaporation line (sweating on the external surface of the tube) ends ~ 200mm before the tube exits the evaporator spiral.

 

[mogmog2]

You could make an evaporator coil. Take a close look at say a domestic or similar and gauge the tube size embedded inside the plate, and measure ~ how long the embedded tube is.

Then obtain some similar size tube and wrap the same length x 1.5 in a spiral around the edge of the space you wish to cool. The lack of plate surface will largely be compensated by the smaller volume you are trying to cool, and increase the tube length by ~50%, so the refrigerant can evaporate adequately.

To one end braze a capillary tube, again measure the approx length of the original on the same Dometic ( or similar), the outlet end simply routes to the compressor.

Mount the stat sensor inside the cool box in a similar mode to the Dometic. The box being smaller will cool faster, so simply the compressor will cut out earlier.

When charging simply add gas until the evaporation line (sweating on the external surface of the tube) ends ~ 200mm before the tube exits the evaporator spiral.

Thanks for this. Interesting. Presumably adding copper fins or even brazing to a custom copper sheet would improve efficiency?
I also have limited space (and power) and was looking at alternatives to the off the shelf 80l offerings. Came across this, which earrants further investigation I think. https://m.alibaba.com/product/60843832179/High-Technology-Small-Refrigeration-Compressor-Mini.html

 

[Deleted member 478]

Webbie, check your private messages.