- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Is a Full Freezer More Energy Efficient Than an Empty Freezer?
Posted on 4/17/14 at 2:06 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
Posted on 4/17/14 at 2:06 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
Frozen items help stabilize internal air temperatures better, but freezer is used more.
Lack of frozen items means more fluctuations could occur if opened, but one need not open the freezer as regularly because there is nothing inside.
Difference = negligible!
But, since we live in a state that is prone to storms and power outages, if you have a near-empty freezer and want to make sure you can keep your frozen goods cold, it's a good idea to put water in plastic containers and fill in those void spaces!
Lack of frozen items means more fluctuations could occur if opened, but one need not open the freezer as regularly because there is nothing inside.
Difference = negligible!
But, since we live in a state that is prone to storms and power outages, if you have a near-empty freezer and want to make sure you can keep your frozen goods cold, it's a good idea to put water in plastic containers and fill in those void spaces!
0
Posted on 4/17/14 at 2:11 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
Yes
Think of it as this. An empty freezer has more space to cool. So it'll take more energy to keep that space at the desired temperature
If you're freezer is full, it'll take more energy to freeze the stuff inside the freezer initially, but afterwards it'll be more efficient since it doesn't have as much area to cool.
Think of it as this. An empty freezer has more space to cool. So it'll take more energy to keep that space at the desired temperature
If you're freezer is full, it'll take more energy to freeze the stuff inside the freezer initially, but afterwards it'll be more efficient since it doesn't have as much area to cool.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 2:11 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
Look who's in the freezer. Uncle Ebeneezer.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 2:22 pm to C
Airplane+treadmill=not taking off!
Posted on 4/17/14 at 2:54 pm to Coon
Jesus people, the answer has already been given.
First, technically a full freezer is more efficient.
It is more efficient because the opening and closing of the door of a freezer is when it loses most of its coolness. When the freezer is empty, the freezer is filled with air and when opening the freezer allows the cool air to be replaced with more warm temperature air which the freezer needs to work at cooling.
When the freezer is full, there is less air in the freezer because there is less empty space. When the freezer is opened, there is less cool air to get out and mix with warm air.
The frozen stuff in the freezer doesn't change much from the short time of opening, but the air can change quite a bit.
Less air, less loss of cold, less work, more efficient.
It really is that simple.
First, technically a full freezer is more efficient.
It is more efficient because the opening and closing of the door of a freezer is when it loses most of its coolness. When the freezer is empty, the freezer is filled with air and when opening the freezer allows the cool air to be replaced with more warm temperature air which the freezer needs to work at cooling.
When the freezer is full, there is less air in the freezer because there is less empty space. When the freezer is opened, there is less cool air to get out and mix with warm air.
The frozen stuff in the freezer doesn't change much from the short time of opening, but the air can change quite a bit.
Less air, less loss of cold, less work, more efficient.
It really is that simple.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 2:57 pm to Coon
It's been a few years since I took thermo, but here's my rationale.
The idea of cooling a refrigerator/freezer is that you're removing heat from the space via a heat exchanger with various compressed gases. You do that because as the inside gets warmer, you want to keep it cold. So then it becomes a question of what can heat up quicker- air or frozen food. My guess is that air heats up much quicker than solid food does. Also because it's frozen there's a transitional energy that's required to change it from frozen to not frozen.
Therefore a full a freezer would be more efficient.
nerd rant\
The idea of cooling a refrigerator/freezer is that you're removing heat from the space via a heat exchanger with various compressed gases. You do that because as the inside gets warmer, you want to keep it cold. So then it becomes a question of what can heat up quicker- air or frozen food. My guess is that air heats up much quicker than solid food does. Also because it's frozen there's a transitional energy that's required to change it from frozen to not frozen.
Therefore a full a freezer would be more efficient.
nerd rant\
This post was edited on 4/17/14 at 3:01 pm
Posted on 4/17/14 at 3:00 pm to dgtiger3
quote:
This sounds like an excellent Science Fair project. Fwiw
This
or a mythbusters episode.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 3:03 pm to NYNolaguy1
quote:
It's been a few years since I took thermo, but here's my rationale.
The idea of cooling a refrigerator/freezer is that you're removing heat from the space via a heat exchanger with various compressed gases. You do that because as the inside gets warmer, and you want to keep it cold. So then it becomes a question of what can heat up quicker- air or frozen food. My guess is that air heats up much quicker than solid food does. Also because it's frozen there's a transitional energy that's required to change it from frozen to not frozen.
Therefore a full a freezer would be more efficient.
nerd rant\
I think you're right, but that 'transitional energy', the heat of fusion, is going to have to come from somewhere. I could be wrong, but I believe the additional saving you get by not having to re-cool as much air every time the door is opened is nullified by having to freeze the extra stuff.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 3:13 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
quote:
additional saving you get by not having to re-cool as much air every time the door is opened is nullified by having to freeze the extra stuff.
In the short term, yes. But over time, the full freezer is more efficient.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 3:47 pm to redbaron
quote:
In the short term, yes. But over time, the full freezer is more efficient.
You have to been an engineer. Cause you have a great handle on this one. And half the engineers I know would screw it up.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 4:08 pm to redbaron
I believe you, but the specific heat of air is tiny. Cooling a cubic yard of air seems insignificant relative to the energy required to freeze water. I'd be interested to see just how long it would take to see an advantage, and I'm leaning towards it being so long that it's practically negligible.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 4:28 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
That tiny specific heat of air forces the compressor to kick in for several short bursts throughout the day. Once the water/food/whatever is frozen, it will hold it's temperature better. The few times during the day that the compressor has to kick in for the full freezer, it runs longer.
This is more efficient. Think about driving 10 miles in a day. Does your car burn more gas if you turn it on, drive half a mile, and turn it off 20 times? Or if you turn it on, and drive the 10 miles in one drive?
This is more efficient. Think about driving 10 miles in a day. Does your car burn more gas if you turn it on, drive half a mile, and turn it off 20 times? Or if you turn it on, and drive the 10 miles in one drive?
Posted on 4/17/14 at 4:29 pm to Tigris
quote:
You have to been an engineer
That obvious huh? ME Class of 2012
Posted on 4/17/14 at 4:29 pm to Tigris
quote:
You have to been an engineer.
I am, but I don't deal at all with HVAC stuff. My job is just to make sure the bridge/building doesn't fall down.
Page 3 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News