An Absorption Refrigerator: How Can Heat Keep Things Cold?!?!

An absorption refrigerator, like those frequently found in an RV (and commonly referred to as an “RV refrigerator”), uses heat to cool your food and beverages. How can that be? In this post, we take a closer look at the RV absorption refrigerator – what it is, how it works, how it’s powered, how efficient it is, and what to do if yours isn’t cooling well.

That’s a lot to cover in a single post, so let’s not waste any time!

What is an Absorption Refrigerator?

An absorption refrigerator uses a gas flow heat exchange system to extract heat from the interior, cooling both the fridge and freezer compartments. The two most common types of absorption fridges used in RVs are:

• A 3-way RV absorption refrigerator, which can be powered in any one of three ways: propane (LP) gas, 12V battery power (most often only when the RV’s engine and alternator are supplying power), or 120V AC power (when plugged into shore power or running off a generator).
• 2-way absorption refrigerators, which can run on propane or 120V AC (shore) power (though there’s also another type of 2-way fridge that’s actually a compressor fridge that can run on either 120V AC power or 12V DC power when off-grid).

Let’s take a look at how an RV absorption refrigerator works.

How Does an Absorption Fridge Work?

An absorption fridge uses either a flame from a propane burner OR an electric heating element to work. The three stages of functioning involve evaporation, absorption, and regeneration. The process uses an ammonia-based liquid refrigerant, with water as the absorbent and to lower the evaporation point of the ammonia to a point that’s below the temperature of the interior of the fridge.

If you look at the back of your RV absorption fridge, you’ll see tubes, coils, and fins.

This absorption refrigerator diagram shows the cooling cycle of an absorption fridge. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s how it all works (the numbered items below correspond to the diagram above):

1. Heat is supplied to a liquid refrigerant (typically ammonia & water), causing the mixture to boil and turn into a gas.
2. The now gaseous refrigerant travels through a separation chamber where the water vapor condenses back to a liquid.
3. The liquid water returns to the absorption chamber.
4. The hot gaseous ammonia continues to rise through a condenser coil located near the top of the refrigerator, where the heat is extracted (to the outside air), causing the ammonia to condense back to a cold liquid form.
5. Hydrogen gas (released during the condensing cycle) is separated and returned to the absorption chamber.
6. The cooled, liquid ammonia now flows (due to gravity) down to an evaporator coil, drawing heat from the freezer and then the refrigerator compartments.
7. The heat absorbed from the interior of the refrigerator causes the liquid ammonia to re-evaporate, returning it to its gaseous form.
8. The ammonia gas continues to flow toward the absorption chamber.
9. In the absorption chamber, the ammonia gas mixes with the water that was returned to the absorption chamber in step #3 and is now ready to repeat the cooling cycle.

This is a completely closed system in which the refrigerant is constantly recycled, making it extremely efficient.

This photo of the back of an absorption refrigerator shows the coils, fins, and electrical wires involved.

Does an Absorption Fridge Use a Lot of Electricity?

The efficiency of an absorption refrigerator and the amount of electricity it uses vary depending on the mode it’s operating in. An absorption fridge is MOST efficient when operating in propane mode, however.

When operating in propane mode, an absorption fridge uses very little electricity. Propane mode is, in fact, the mode that uses the least electricity by far. It will vary to some degree, but the only electricity (12V DC) an RV absorption refrigerator uses when running in LP (liquid propane) mode is just enough to run any connected fans, general (very small) parasitic loads, a lightbulb, and a thermostat (unless you have a “door heater” climate system or an ice maker, both of which will add more power usage).

In 120V mode, the same 12V DC power listed above is being used, but the heat to run the cycle is provided by the 120V AC heating element instead of the propane. The heat generated by the AC heater is what initiates the cooling cycle, boiling the water/ammonia mixture. An RV refrigerator can run on 120V AC when connected to shore power or when operating a generator (onboard or portable).

How Cold Does an Absorption Fridge Get?

The cooling ability of an absorption refrigerator operating in LP (liquid propane) mode is impacted significantly by the ambient temperature. So if the weather is very hot, your fridge will have more difficulty cooling. In fact, extreme heat AND extreme cold both affect the functioning of an absorption refrigerator (as does high altitude).

Therefore, we must consider how cold an absorption fridge can get in relation to the ambient temperature. In general, in excellent conditions, an absorption refrigerator will cool the fridge compartment to somewhere around 40 degrees (Fahrenheit) below ambient (outside) temperature. This is a crucial piece of information to understand about absorption fridges, as the ambient temperature can significantly impact the fridge compartment’s cooling capacity.

If you’re camping in an area with an ambient temperature of 75℉, the fridge compartment of an RV absorption fridge may cool to around 35℉ or lower, depending on the thermostat setting. However, if your ambient temperature is 90℉, your fridge temp may climb to around 50℉, and that may be too high for the safety of certain foods.

This is why people install aftermarket fans in the rear of the RV refrigerator – to better circulate air across the condenser and improve the cooling ability of the fridge in a wider range of ambient temps. Other tips include parking in the shade, cooling your food before placing it in the fridge, and opening the fridge as infrequently as possible in hot weather conditions.

Fans like the ones below, or small computer fans installed at the back of the fridge, can have a very significant beneficial effect on cooling. Fans inside the fridge compartment also help to equalize the temperature throughout the refrigerator by circulating the air and preventing warm spots:

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Beech Lane RV Fridge Fan, Patented, High Power 3,000 RPM Motor, Easy On and Off Switch, Multiple Side Vents Increase Airflow, Durable Construction, Efficiently Cools Refrigerator (Natural)

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13" Triple Fan Deluxe "Frost Guard" RV Refrigerator Evaporator Fan w/LED light & Grill

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TITAN- 12V DC Double Rack Mount Ventilation Cooling Fan for Fridge Vent and Ventilation Grille with Speed Controller (90mm)

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Does an RV Fridge Work Better on Gas or Electric?

Once the cooling process is started, an RV fridge should operate at approximately the same temperature regardless of the source of heat. However, there is a difference in the amount of heat each source can supply to initiate the process.

Propane is by far the most efficient method for operating an absorption refrigerator. Once the propane is ignited, it supplies the largest amount of heat to the burner chamber, getting the cooling process started quickly. Running on 120V AC power is the next best choice, with the 12V DC heating element being the least powerful way to run an RV absorption fridge (and primarily designed to maintain an already-cool fridge while you’re underway/driving).

Are Absorption Fridges Any Good?

In many ways, they’re fantastic. But, of course, there are two sides to every coin. So, to more thoroughly answer this question, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of absorption fridges:

Advantages of RV Absorption Refrigerators

• Highly efficient in LP mode and can run for long durations of time as they rely on the gas flow exchange system (and require only minimal amounts of 12V DC power from your RV’s battery(ies) to operate circuitry, etc)
• Can be used when boondocking, requiring no connection to shore power, a large solar system, or a generator
• The heat exchange system is silent for quiet operation

Disadvantages of RV Absorption Refrigerators

• The fridge needs to be level for efficient operation and for the health of the appliance (it varies by RV fridge manufacturer but is generally within just a few degrees front-to-back and side-to-side)
• Require good ventilation while using propane gas mode and to ensure efficient operation
• Inefficient on 12V and drains batteries quickly
• The cooling ability of an absorption fridge is impacted by ambient temperatures

One of the disadvantages of an RV absorption refrigerator is the need for the RV (and thus the fridge) to be level for proper cooling.

Absorption vs Compressor Fridge Efficiency

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of an RV compressor fridge to see how it compares with an absorption fridge for RVs:

Advantages of Compressor Refrigerators

• Capable of cooling to lower temperatures regardless of ambient (outside) temp
• Cool more consistently due to the compressor motor
• Can serve as a freezer due to its powerful compressor motor
• Will operate regardless of whether the RV is level or on an incline/decline
• Run more efficiently on 12V battery power (mostly applicable to 12V compressor refrigerators, as 120V AC refrigerators require an inverter which adds inefficiency)

Disadvantages of Compressor Refrigerators

• May be noisy while the compressor is running
• May require power assistance such as solar to charge the batteries that power the refrigerator

What If Your Absorption Fridge Isn’t Cooling?

If your absorption fridge isn’t cooling as well as it should be, several common issues may be responsible. Let’s take a look at what might be happening, along with some absorption refrigerator repair ideas.

Fridge Works, But Isn’t Cooling Well in Hot Weather

If your RV refrigerator is running but isn’t cooling well in hot weather, there are a few things you can do to try to address this issue.

RV absorption refrigerators struggle to cool well when the ambient temperature is high.

1. First, it’s vital for your absorption fridge to be able to reject its own heat. This is why (external) fans are often added – they add to the effectiveness of ventilation, enabling the fridge to cool more efficiently. It’s also possible that either your burner tube or the fridge’s flue/vent (or both) need cleaning. Insect nests or other debris may be affecting the fridge’s efficient operation.
2. Whenever you travel in hot weather, be sure to try to park your RV so that the fridge side is in the shade. The sun will always increase the heat and impact your fridge’s performance.
3. Consider the age of your RV absorption fridge. In general, the cooling units of absorption fridges last around 15-20 years or so. Thereafter, it’s possible that the cooling unit is bad.
4. And finally, if there’s a problem with the insulation of the fridge, it may start having difficulty maintaining its cool temperature. If your fridge’s insulation fails after many years, you may see bulging on the sides of the fridge. This occurs if the vacuum panels inside the walls of the fridge rupture or get punctured.

Fridge Isn’t Cooling Well Regardless of the Ambient Temperature

1. If your RV absorption fridge isn’t cooling well, regardless of the ambient temperature, the burner may need cleaning. If you remove the shield from the back of your fridge and notice that the flame isn’t burning well or at all, you’ll need to remove the burner and give it a good cleaning. Sometimes a burner will need to be replaced, but it can frequently be cleaned with good results.
2. If your fridge isn’t clicking on when it should, there could be an issue with the thermostat, and it may need to be replaced.
3. If you notice that the burner is running constantly but the fridge isn’t getting cold, check the burner flame. What you should see is a strong, continuous blue flame. If you see a weak, flickering, or orange flame, that’s another sign that your burner needs to be cleaned (or, you may be at too high an elevation, which will reduce the efficiency of the burner… and, thus the efficiency of the fridge’s ability to function… consider moving to a lower elevation as soon as possible).
4. And finally, the seals around the door of the fridge are prone to fail over time and use. An easy way to check the seal is to close the door on a dollar bill or a piece of paper. If you don’t feel resistance and the paper is easily pulled out of the closed door, then your door seals are failing. Be sure to check in various places all the way around the entire perimeter of each door (there can be up to four) to check for leaks.

Read More About RV Refrigerators

For more information, see our post all about the RV refrigerator, as well as our thoughts on the best refrigerator for an RV. If you’re interested in the reasons why we ultimately moved to an RV residential refrigerator, you can check out that post as well.

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