Exploding refrigerators?

i was thinking the repairman placed a device...

 

"Exploding Refrigerators" would be an excellent name for a band.

 

It's the R600 refrigerant that is highly flammable now used in many small refrigerators.

https://refrigeranthq.com/r-600a-isobutane-refrigerant-fact-info-sheet/

 

I've got a Frigidaire chest freezer with a pretty ominous warning sticker on it. Specifically calls out an explosive refrigerant. New in 2018.

I knew we left it in the garage for a reason...

 

we also have a fridgedaire, a couple years old. needs repairing about once a year, now i'm hesitant

 

As improbable as it sounds coils restricting refrigerant flow is a good explanation of what can happen when coils are so dirty, they can no longer dissipate heat and the compressor continues to run until the coils rupture from overpressure and a refrigerant begins escaping from the rupture around a red hot compressor. Some refrigerants used in modern refrigerators are extremely flammable/explosive.

Refrigerators should have safeties built in but ....

I have a small chest freezer that uses ... gulp ... c-pentane as a refrigerant.


Exploding Refrigerator? A Hidden Danger in Your Home (realtor.com)

Here's What Really Causes Fridge Explosions (housebeautiful.com)

 

4. gas expands at an increased rate due to excess heat increasing pressure

 

My kitchen fridge is built into a closet. Luckily it is old enough to NOT have R600 as it has proven to be a very unreliable Maytag Fridge. (so much for the Maytag repairman)

I guess I'll have to provide ventilation when we replace the fridge.

JeffD

 

we were taught like this:

Refrigerator explodes
why
gas ignited
why
gas escaped from system
why
coil ruptured
why
coil failed
why
excess pressure
why
excess temperature in system
why
coils dirty


Potential causes
Coils need to be cleaned regularly.
potential coil joint integrity failure
Runaway compressor

Potential countermeasure
Labeling to inform homeowner of need for coil cleaning
Quality control test of condenser joint and piping
Investigate installation of pressure sensor on condenser piping to shut system down before overpressure breach
Investigate installation of temperature sensor in system to shut system down when high temperature detected
Investigate cost effective refrigerant replacement with non flammable refrigerant.

Formatting is all screwed up because this medium doesn't lend itself to this.

The person assigned this investigation would then be expected to put dates and times when all tasks would be completed.
They would then have to pick the most cost effective and most technically effective countermeasures to implement and report out to the group on the problem resolution and then follow up on it to insure its long term effectiveness- once management and all stakeholders approved the 5 whys - potential causes-potential countermeasures and timeliness of solutions. There would also be a 6 month follow up with problem resolution to see if it was effective and was successfully implemented.

 

How about a temperature sensor and alarm if overheated?

JeffD

 

Exactly why you would have the stakeholders review it and make good suggestions like that.

 

I guess that's the engineer in me.

JeffD

 

You don't want a cutoff as that results in a fridge full of spoiled food. I suggested an alarm so that the consumer is forced to take action. The question of a threshold coil temperature requires some study.

JeffD

 

My Frigidaire with the explosive refrigerant has a hot wall design. No coils per se. Still really okay with it sleeping in the garage.