Pot-in-pot refrigerator facts for kids
A pot-in-pot refrigerator is a clever device that keeps food cool without needing electricity. It's also known as a Zeer in Arabic. This simple cooler uses a natural process called evaporation to keep fruits, vegetables, and other foods fresh for longer. It's a great solution for places where electricity is hard to find or expensive.
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How a Pot-in-Pot Refrigerator Works
This cooler is made from two clay pots. One pot is smaller and fits inside a larger one. The space between the two pots is filled with wet sand. A wet cloth or lid covers the top of the pots.
The cooling happens as water from the wet sand and cloth slowly evaporates into the air. When water evaporates, it takes heat away from its surroundings. This makes the inner pot much cooler. This cool environment helps to keep food fresh for a longer time.
For the pot-in-pot refrigerator to work best, it needs to be placed in a dry, ventilated area. This allows the water to evaporate easily. In places with high humidity (lots of moisture in the air), the evaporation process slows down. This means the cooler won't work as well or might not cool at all.
The Modern Inventor
While the idea of evaporative cooling is very old, a man named Mohammed Bah Abba from Nigeria helped bring the pot-in-pot refrigerator back into modern use. He developed and improved the design. In 1995, he received a patent for his "pot-in-pot preservation/cooling system."
For his important work, Mohammed Bah Abba was given a Rolex award in 2000. His invention has helped many communities, especially farmers and families, keep their food from spoiling. This simple technology helps reduce food waste and improves health.
Ancient Cooling Methods
The idea of using evaporation to cool things is not new. People have used similar methods for thousands of years. For example, in ancient Middle Kingdom of Egypt, there was a hieroglyphic symbol called kbb, which meant "to cool." This shows that ancient Egyptians knew about and used cooling techniques.
Other Evaporative Coolers
Some other items work on the same principle of evaporative cooling. For instance, Earthenware wine coolers are designed this way. You soak them in cold water for a while, then empty them and place them on a table. The tiny holes (pores) in the earthenware fill with water. As this water slowly evaporates from the surface, it keeps white wine cool for several hours.
See also
In Spanish: Refrigerador de dos vasijas para niños
