Refrigeration in Maple Grove MN is probably one of those topics that you never think of. After all, you don’t really notice the effects of refrigeration until the electricity goes out. And depending on when and for how long it actually goes out, you could have spoiled meat, a warm house or some other catastrophe. Here are some things that refrigeration has been used for in the past and what it’s used for today to give you an idea of how important it is in today’s culture.
Ice Harvesting
Preserving food with ice and refrigeration techniques goes all the way back to early historical times. People had to keep food fresh and they learned very early that they can do so by putting it on ice. The Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Persians used to store ice and snow in caves and other places that they dug out specifically for storage. They would line the areas with straw and other materials that were good for insulation so they could keep their food fresh for several days. In the 1500s, people learned that they could create a chemical imitation of refrigeration and they started using sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate combined with water. This lowered the temperature of the water enough to store food in it.
Early Refrigeration Systems
William Cullen at the University of Glasgow in Scotland was the first person to create a method of artificial refrigeration that worked. This was in 1756 and he created a pump which helped absorb the heat from the surrounding air. His method even created a small chunk of ice. Unfortunately, he had no practical use for his findings at the time. A couple years later, Benjamin Franklin tried working on a refrigeration method along with Cambridge chemistry professor John Hadley. They used evaporation of certain liquids, such as ether and alcohol, to lower the temperature of the liquid below the freezing point. It wasn’t until 50 years later when Oliver Evans designed a refrigeration system that was based on vapor compression.
Today’s Uses
Today, refrigeration in Maple Grove MN is used almost everywhere you go, especially places that offer food. Your favorite restaurants use refrigeration to keep the food fresh and the ice in cubes for their customers at all times. When you go to your supermarket, the butcher has a refrigeration storage area and the display cases also have some type of refrigeration method to keep the meat at the right temperature. Gas stations and convenience stores use methods for refrigeration in Maple Grove as they have soft drinks and other essentials available to customers. Trucks even use refrigeration methods when they are transporting food from one place to another. Research labs also use refrigeration to keep samples at the right temperature for testing.
Regardless of the type of refrigeration methods you use at your home or business, you can contact Twin City Mechanical for help if you are having a problem. With years of experience and a dedication to customer satisfaction, you can be assured that we are here to help.