thermodynamic cooler by rochus jacob from usa

The thermodynamic cooler is a transfer and optimization of basic technology mainly used in emerging countries to the high-tech kitchen. Food gets preserved by the cooling effect of evaporating water using no electricity. The system is designed to be stackable, can be used as an alternative for a pantry, second fridge or an advanced fruit bowl. The design could help to reduce domestic energy consumption without radically compromising comfort.
The cooler consists of two pots, one placed inside the other. The space between the two pots is filled with wet glass-foam, a waste product of the glass recycling process. I used this material instead of sand in the original version because it soaks in the water quicker and let the whole container become much lighter. The smaller inner clay pot, is covered with a damp cloth that is stretched over the lid. The water contained in the glass-foam between the two pots start to evaporate. By virtue of the laws of thermodynamics, the evaporation process automatically causes a drop in temperature of several degrees, cooling the inner clay pot, destroying harmful micro-organisms and preserving the perishable foods inside. To keep the cooling process active water needs to be added every couple of days, a green indicator highlights this for the user. A full working prototype was realized, by working with professors of physics, using recyclable materials such as glass foam, clay and bio-plastics.