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The Einstein Refrigerator is a unique type of refrigerator co-invented in 1926 by Albert Einstein and former student Leó
Szilárd.
On November 11, 1930, patent number US1781541 was awarded to Albert Einstein and Leó Szilárd. The patent covered a
thermodynamic refrigeration cycle providing cooling with no moving parts,
at a constant pressure, with only heat as an
input. The refrigeration cycle used ammonia,
butane, and water.
Einstein undertook this invention as a way of helping along his former student. He used the knowledge he had acquired during
his years at the Swiss Patent office to get solid patents for the invention in several
countries. The refrigerator was never put into commercial production, but rights to use the patents were sold to companies such
as Electrolux of Sweden, and the
funds obtained supported Szilárd for several years.
Reference
Dannen, Gene. The Einstein-Szilard Refrigerator. Scientific American. January 1997. 6 pages.
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