Sun Frost RFVB-134a Solar Powered Vaccine
Storage DC Refrigerator Freezer World Health Organization Tested & Approved
- Most efficient refrigerator in its size range
- Runs on either 12 volt or 24 volt DC
- Lowest system cost: Fewer solar panels and batteries to purchase,
transport, and install
- Rugged construction for remote service
- Rustproof cabinet and hardware, all copper cooling system
prevents corrosion
- Easy to defrost and clean: more convenient than chest models
- Evaporator is unexposed – cannot be punctured during defrosting
- Condenser is easy to clean and minimally affected by dust and
cobwebs
- Reliable: compressor is the only moving part – no fans are
necessary
- Excellent temperature control
- Reserve cooling capacity: runs only 27% of the time in a hot
43° C (110° F) environment
- Most efficient DC vaccine refrigerator of its size tested and
approved by the World Health Organization
- Packing Crate can be turned into a strudy table for the DC
vaccine refrigerator
Reliable: Many Years of Trouble Free
Operation
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Sun Frost refrigerators have proved themselves reliable. Over
the past 12 years they have been installed in over 50 developing
countries and have held up under the harshest conditions. For critical
applications, far from supporting infrastructure, from Borneo to
Botswana, Sun Frost refrigerators have delivered consistently
dependable performance day in and day out.
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For the past 12 years Sun Frost refrigerators/freezers have been
used in over 50 countries and have an excellent track record. Sun Frost
DC vaccine refrigerators are very ruggedly constructed and will provide
many years of reliable operation, even in the harshest environments.
The sole moving part in the Sun Frost RFVB DC vaccine refrigerator
is a hermetically sealed compressor. The brushless motor used in the DC
models eliminates periodic servicing. If servicing is ever necessary,
the simplicity of the cooling system and the accessibility of the
compressor make it a simple matter.
Life expectancy of a compressor is lowered primarily by high
condenser and oil temperatures. The Sun Frost refrigerator, with its
top mounted cooling system, allows room for air to freely circulate and
effectively cool the compressor and oversized condenser. Conventional
cooling systems, mounted in confined spaces on the side or below the
refrigerator, will run considerably hotter, lowering compressor life.
Also contributing to the longevity of the cooling system is the
compressor's low percentage run time, only 19% in a 32° C (90°
F) room.
The low energy consumption of
the RFVB DC vaccine refrigerator allows the use of a smaller and more
reliable battery for the funds expended (ARTICLE). In a photovoltaic refrigerator system,
the battery bank is the component with the shortest expected life. A
battery may last from 2 to 15 years, depending on the quality of the
battery and how it is used and maintained. Battery life is extended by
decreasing the degree to which the batteries are discharged.
No Fossil Fuels
The Sun Frost RFVB DC vaccine refrigerator provides a means of storing
vaccines and medical supplies without the use of fossil fuels. Not only
is the need for a fuel supply eliminated, but the unit operates more
reliably than kerosene powered refrigerators.
The refrigerator is typically powered by a photovoltaic charged
battery bank. This reliable power source is dependent only on sunlight,
which is in abundance in most developing nations. Alternatively, the
system's batteries may also be charged by wind, hydro power, or a small
generator. If portability is important, the refrigerator may be run by
car or truck batteries.
In areas where utility power is
intermittent but where it is important to maintain reliable
refrigeration, the system's batteries may be powered by a small battery
charger powered by utility power.
RFVB: The Most Efficient Refrigerator
The cost of a solar power system is typically more than the cost of the
refrigerator, so efficiency is of prime importance in reducing system
costs. As a result of the low energy consumption of the Sun Frost RFVB
DC vaccine refrigerator, the cost of the power system will be reduced
by more than US$700.00. Our RFVB vaccine storage refrigerator is the
most efficient DC refrigerator of its size tested and approved by the
World Health Organization (WHO).
The Sun Frost RFVB DC vaccine refrigerator employs unique design
innovations to achieve its exceptionally low energy consumption. The
heart of the system is a highly efficient compressor and condenser. Top
mounting the cooling system lowers the energy consumption in two ways:
(1) heat gain into the cabinet is reduced and (2) the lower condenser
temperature increases the efficiency of the cooling system.
The walls of the RFVB DC vaccine refrigerator contain four to six
inches of polyurethane foam insulation - the best insulation
commercially available. Unlike many other refrigerators, the insulating
value of the walls of the RFVB are not lowered by metal supports
between the inner and outer cases.
The top mounted condenser on the Sun Frost RFVB DC vaccine
refrigerator is accessible and easy to clean, allowing the cooling
system to continue running efficiently. The efficiency of the cooling
system is further increased 
by eliminating the need for
fans, which
consume energy and generate unwanted heat and noise. Furthermore, dust
and cobwebs which collect on the intricate surface of the back or
bottom mounted condenser of conventional refrigerators reduce the
effectiveness of their cooling systems.
Efficiency Reduces System Costs to
Lowest Available
To produce one amp hour of electrical energy per day in the U.S.
requires an investment of $45.00 in a PV system. In a developing
country this cost may be considerably higher.
When making ice the highly efficient Sun Frost RFVB DV vaccine
refrigerator typically saves 25 amp hours per day when compared to the
average refrigerator tested by the World Health Organization. This
increased efficiency translates to a savings of over $1000.00 in the PV
power system.
Ice Storage Further Increases System
Reliability
The relatively large freezer in the RFVB DC vaccine refrigertor can
easily hold 12 kilograms of ice. This ice may be transferred to the
refrigerator section if the cooling system is not in operation due to
refrigerator failure, loss of power, or an exceptionally long overcast
period.
The 12 kilograms of ice now stored in the super-insulated
refrigerator section will keep the stored vaccines cold for
approximately nine days. If the system's batteries are low because of
extremely bad weather, this nine day period should be sufficient to let
the batteries recharge. Without ice storage, it would be necessary to
purchase additional batteries to maintain the vaccines during prolonged
overcast conditions.
Defrosting: A Simple Matter
When defrosting is needed, it is fast and easy. Just turn off the
refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Since ice forms only on the flat,
easily cleaned surfaces, it comes off in large pieces. There are no
irregular shapes and ducts to grip and hold the ice, and no water to
mop up.
The evaporator in the RFVB DC vaccine refrigerator is protected by a
fiberglass liner and cannot be punctured while defrosting, a common
problem in many manual defrost refrigerators.
RFVB Efficient Cooling System
The temperature of the refrigerator section is tightly controlled for
vaccine storage. The large capacity freezer section can produce 2
kilograms of ice per day in a 43° C (110° F) environment
running only 42% of the time. Ice is produced very efficiently in the
RFVB DC vaccine refrigerator; only 6 amp. hours are typically consumed
to produce one kilogram of ice. Competing models use nearly twice as
much energy for ice production.
The evaporator design contributes significantly to the efficiency of
ice production. Containers being frozen make direct contact with the
evaporator molded into the floor of the freezer section. A second
evaporator in the ceiling of the freezer effectively cools the contents
of the freezer by convection.
In a chest type freezer, it is difficult to make direct contact with
the evaporator for effective conductive cooling. Also, in a chest type
freezer convection is less effective because the evaporator cannot be
mounted above the freezer.
The freezer section of the RFVB DC vaccine
refrigerator is isolated from the refrigerator compartment by three
inches of polyurethane insulation. This feature prevents stored
vaccines from being heated when warm water is placed in the freezer, a
problem in refrigerators of conventional design.
In addition to efficiency, the RFVB DC vaccine refrigerator design
offers convenience. Stored vaccines are much more accessible than they
are in chest models. Health workers generally find the vertical design
much more acceptable.
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Dimensions
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Vaccine Storage Capacity:
38.7 liters as measured by the World Health Organization (The World
Health Organization measures internal volume with specific size
containers & container spacing. Using that method, the RFVB has a
38.7 liter capacity.)
Freezer dimensions: Volume 34 liters (1.2 cu.
ft.), 10.2 high x 66.0 wide x 50.8 deep cm (4 x 26 x 20 in.)
Refrigerator dimensions: Volume 51 liters (1.8
CF), 16.5 high x 66.0 wide x 50.8 deep cm (6.5 x 26 x 20 in.)
Shipping weight crated for export: 91 kilograms
(200 pounds)
Shipping volume crated for export: 0.71 cubic
meters (25 cubic feet)
Export crated dimensions: 97.4 x 100.0 x 79.5 cm
(38 x 39 x 31 in.) – Units may be stacked two high for ocean shipments. |
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Consumption
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| Room Temperature |
21° C (70° F) |
32° C (90° F) |
43° C (110° F) |
| Energy Consumption (12 volt) |
14 amp hours/day |
23 amp hours/day
.28 kWh/day |
36 amp hours/day
.43 kWh/day |
| Energy Consumption (12 volt) making 2.2 kg ice/day |
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32 amp hours/day
.38 kWh/day |
51 amp hours/day
.61 kWh/day |
| Refrigerator Temperature |
3° C (38° F) |
3° C (38° F) |
3° C (38° F) |
| Freezer Temperature |
-11° C (12° F) |
-9° C (15° F) |
-5° C (23° F) |
| Running Current: 4.5 amps for 12
volt system, 2.3 amps for 24 volt system |
| Starting Current: 15 amps for 12
volt system, 7.5 amps for 24 volt system |
| Wiring should be designed for 15 amp load for 12
volt system, 7.5 amps for 24 volt system |
