Refrigerators

The Bucharest University of Economic Studies
Faculty of Business and Tourism
Comparative analysis of refrigerator quality
Professor: Doru Pleea PhD Students: Gheorghe Sebastian

Herea Daniela
Munteanu Matei Bogdan
Group: 346
Bucharest 2017
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Chapter I. General presentation of refrigerators...............................................................................4
1.1 Definition...........................................................................................................................4
1.2 Short History......................................................................................................................4
1.3 Components of a refrigerator...........................................................................................13
1.4 Classification of refrigerators..........................................................................................17
1.5 Energy efficiency.............................................................................................................22
Chapter II. Market analysis............................................................................................................23
Chapter III. Comparative analysis of refrigerators quality.............................................................25
Conclusions....................................................................................................................................31
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................32
Introduction
Refrigerators are one of the most valuable equipments found in our home today. Almost every
household in the world needs something to store their food to prevent them from spoiling. This
magical equipment which is craftily made turns on every five minutes and keeps everything cold.
Without it, there will be enormous amount of food that will go to be on the garbage every day.
Surely, such invention is great that it affects almost every people on earth regarding whatever
their walks of life are.
Natural preservatives used in the past are through salt and ice. This will relatively lengthen and
preserve the foods but they are not that easy to do and the preparations are delicate. Today,
refrigerators not only help us on preserving foods but also provide us a luxurious kind of life. It
keeps our beverage cool whenever we wanted them to, and it has freezer which relatively make a
fine desert that all of us are enjoying today.
A lot of advancement happens in our world today, and that includes the advancement in the
features of a refrigerator. The first model of it consumes only a small amount of power
consumption but today it consumes more energy than usual. Large unit of freezers consumes
about 4 kilowatt hour per day. Its energy consumption is even greater when constantly being
opened. This gave birth to different types of refrigerator which addresses every need of human
being today. One example of this is a compact generator. It comprises to only a small amount of
compartment thus stores only a small amount of food. This would also help people not to buy
larger amount of foods which contributes greatly in overeating. It also comes in minute sizes that
you could actually carry it when you go on travel. This is particularly helpful in families who
plans to have outdoor picnics and could store fresh and nutritious foods. This type of appliance
can stand even with just a 12 volt adapter and can be attached in any plugs of all types of
vehicles. Even with long driving hours and business trips, a compact refrigerator can keep any of
your favorite beverages cool and ready to drink whenever you want to. Health professionals agree
that eating healthy foods and snacks can help maintain the good shape of any individual. These
minute refrigerator might seem so small, but dont let its looks deceive you. They are far more
important than what you think.
Next time youre reaching for your drink at the back of the fridge, take a moment to think how
grand life is thanks to this ingenious invention. Perhaps also spare a thought for Sir Francis. He
did have rather an appropriate name for the job though.1
1 Cameron D. Fowler. Importance of Refrigerators in Our Everyday Lives. [online]. Available at:
http://camerondfowler.weebly.com/importance-of-refrigerators-in-our-everyday-lives [Accessed at 9 May
2017]
Chapter I. General presentation of refrigerators
1.1 Definition
A refrigerator (colloquially fridge) is a popular household appliance that consists of a thermally

insulated compartment and a heat pump (mechanical, electronic or chemical) that transfers heat
from the inside of the fridge to its external environment so that the inside of the fridge is cooled
to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the room. Refrigeration is an essential food
storage technique in developed countries. The lower temperature lowers the reproduction rate of
bacteria, so the refrigerator reduces the rate of spoilage. A refrigerator maintains a temperature a
few degrees above the freezing point of water. Optimum temperature range for perishable food
storage is 3 to 5 C (37 to 41 F). A similar device that maintains a temperature below the
freezing point of water is called a freezer. The refrigerator replaced the icebox, which had been a
common household appliance for almost a century and a half. For this reason, a refrigerator is
sometimes referred to as an icebox in American usage.
1.2 Short History
Before the invention of the refrigerator, icehouses were used to provide cool storage for most of
the year. Placed near freshwater lakes or packed with snow and ice during the winter, they were
once very common. Natural means are still used to cool foods today. On mountainsides, runoff
from melting snow is a convenient way to cool drinks, and during the winter one can keep milk
fresh much longer just by keeping it outdoors. The word "refrigeratory" was used at least as early
as the 17th century.
The history of artificial refrigeration began when Scottish professor William Cullen designed a
small refrigerating machine in 1755. Cullen used a pump to create a partial vacuum over a
container of diethyl ether, which then boiled, absorbing heat from the surrounding air. The
experiment even created a small amount of ice, but had no practical application at that time.
In 1805, American inventor Oliver Evans described a closed vapor-compression refrigeration
cycle for the production of ice by ether under vacuum. In 1820, the British scientist Michael
Faraday liquefied ammonia and other gases by using high pressures and low temperatures, and in
1834, an American expatriate in Great Britain, Jacob Perkins, built the first working vapor-
compression refrigeration system. It was a closed-cycle device that could operate continuously. A
similar attempt was made in 1842, by American physician, John Gorrie, who built a working
prototype, but it was a commercial failure. American engineer Alexander Twining took out a
British patent in 1850 for a vapor compression system that used ether.
The first practical vapor compression refrigeration system

was built by James Harrison, a British journalist who had
emigrated to Australia. His 1856 patent was for a vapor
compression system using ether, alcohol or ammonia. He
built a mechanical ice-making machine in 1851 on the
banks of the Barwon River at Rocky Point in Geelong,
Victoria, and his first commercial ice-making machine
followed in 1854. Harrison also introduced commercial
vapor-compression
Figure 1: Schematic of Dr. John
refrigeration to breweries Gorrie's 1841 mechanical ice machine. and meat packing houses,
and by 1861, a dozen of his Source: Wikipedia systems were in
operation.
The first gas absorption refrigeration system using gaseous ammonia dissolved in water (referred
to as "aqua ammonia") was developed by Ferdinand Carr of France in 1859 and patented in
1860. Carl von Linde, an engineering professor at the Technological University Munich in
Germany, patented an improved method of liquefying gases in 1876. His new process made
possible the use of gases such as ammonia (NH3), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and methyl chloride
(CH3Cl) as refrigerants and they were widely used for that purpose until the late 1920s.
Figure 2: Ferdinand Carr's ice-making device.

Source: Wikipedia
In 1913, refrigerators for home and
domestic use were invented by Fred W.
Wolf of Fort Wayne, Indiana with
models consisting of a unit that was
mounted on top of an ice box. In 1914,
engineer Nathaniel B. Wales of Detroit, Michigan, introduced an idea for a practical electric
refrigeration unit, which later became the basis for the Kelvinator. A self-contained refrigerator,
with a compressor on the bottom of the cabinet was invented by Alfred Mellowes in 1916.
Mellowes produced this refrigerator commercially but was bought out by William C. Durant in
1918, who started the Frigidaire company to mass-produce refrigerators. In 1918, Kelvinator
company introduced the first refrigerator with any type of automatic control. The absorption
refrigerator was invented by Baltzar von Platen and Carl Munters from Sweden in 1922, while
they were still students at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. It became a worldwide
success and was commercialized by Electrolux. Other pioneers included Charles Tellier, David
Boyle, and Raoul Pictet. Carl von Linde was the first to patent and make a practical and compact
refrigerator.
These home units usually required the installation of the mechanical parts, motor and compressor,
in the basement or an adjacent room while the cold box was located in the kitchen. There was a
1922 model that consisted of a wooden cold box, water-cooled compressor, an ice cube tray and a
9-cubic-foot (0.25 m3) compartment, and cost $714. (A 1922 Model-T Ford cost about $450.) By
1923, Kelvinator held 80 percent of the market for electric refrigerators. Also in 1923 Frigidaire
introduced the first self-contained unit. About this same time porcelain-covered metal cabinets
began to appear. Ice cube trays were introduced more and more during the 1920s; up to this time
freezing was not an auxiliary function of the modern refrigerator.
The first refrigerator to see widespread use was the General

Electric "Monitor-Top" refrigerator introduced in 1927, so-
called because of its resemblance to the gun turret on the
ironclad warship USS Monitor of the 1860s. The
compressor assembly, which emitted a great deal of heat,
was placed above the cabinet, and enclosed by a decorative
ring. Over a million units were produced. As the
refrigerating medium, these refrigerators used either sulfur
dioxide, which is corrosive to the eyes and may cause loss
of vision, painful skin burns and lesions, or methyl formate,
which is highly flammable, harmful to the eyes, and toxic if
inhaled or ingested. Many of these units are still functional
today, after requiring little more service than a replacement
start relay or thermostat if at all. These cooling systems Figure 3: McCray pre-electric
home refrigerator ad (1905) This
cannot legally be recharged with the hazardous original company, founded in 1887, is still
in business.
refrigerants if they leak or break down. Source: Wikipedia
The introduction of Freon in the 1920s expanded the refrigerator market during the 1930s and
provided a safer, low-toxicity alternative to previously used refrigerants. Separate freezers
became common during the 1940s; the popular term at the time for the unit was a deep freeze.
These devices, or appliances, did not go into mass production for use in the home until after
World War II. The 1950s and 1960s saw technical advances like automatic defrosting and
automatic ice making. More efficient refrigerators were developed in the 1970s and 1980s, even
though environmental issues led to the banning of very effective (Freon) refrigerants. Early
refrigerator models (from 1916) had a cold compartment for ice cube trays. From the late 1920s
fresh vegetables were successfully processed through freezing by the Postum Company (the
forerunner of General Foods), which had acquired the technology when it bought the rights to
Clarence Birdseye's successful fresh freezing methods.
The first successful application of frozen foods occurred

when General Foods heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post
(then wife of Joseph E. Davies, United States
Ambassador to the Soviet Union) deployed commercial-
grade freezers in Spaso House, the US Embassy in
Moscow, in advance of the Davies arrival. Post, fearful
Figure 4: General Electric "Monitor- of the USSR's food processing safety standards, fully
Top" refrigerator, introduced in 1927.
Source: Wikipedia
stocked the freezers with products from General Foods'
Birdseye unit. The frozen food stores allowed the Davies
to entertain lavishly and serve fresh frozen foods that
would otherwise be out of season. Upon returning from
Moscow, Post (who resumed her maiden name after
divorcing Davies) directed General Foods to market
frozen product to upscale restaurants.
Home freezers as separate compartments (larger than necessary just for ice cubes), or as separate
units, were introduced in the United States in 1940. Frozen foods, previously a luxury item,
became commonplace.2
The evolution of refrigerators:

1927
The first ever fridge made by General
Electric was called a Monitor-Top. To
purchase this in 1927, it would have set
you back around $520. Fridges looked
very similar to this right up until the late
1940s.
2 Refrigerator [online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator [Accessed at 9 May 2017]

Figure 5:The Monitor-Top
Source: www.realestate.com
1950s
Fridges in the 1950s got a lot fancier. They were aimed at the
middle classes or slave-free households. Marketed towards
housewives, they were supposed to be a point of pride for the
woman of the house, and it was a popular look for the fridge to
match the walls and cupboards of the kitchen.
Figure 6: Fridges in 1950

1960s
Fridges in the 1960s reflected the look of the time. Futuristic, yet simple and with soft curves in
the design. By the 1960s most fridges also included a freezer compartment for mum to stock up
on family dinners. There was a subtle touch of The Jetsons about fridges in this era, hinting at a
tantalising future of efficiency and domestic freedom. Perhaps even robot chefs!

1970s
The 1970s saw a rise in the popularity of
miniature and novelty fridges. The design of
the household fridge also took a turn back
towards the more boxy look of the 1940s.
Compact was back.

Source: http://www.realestate.com
1980s
Fridges of the 1980s were sturdy, utilitarian and
built to last. A good portion of Australian homes
have a garage fridge that looks very similar to the
one pictured above. Maybe you still do.

1990s
The 1990s saw the introduction of
stainless steel to our fridge facades.
Sleek and modern was in, as was
the French-door style, with a
double door and a bottom freezer.
Fridges were glam and
contemporary, with the old white
clunkers gradually falling out of
favour through the decade. With
climate change and electricity costs
Figure 10: Fridges in 1990s getting more attention, the Energy
Star system became a mainstay.
2000
The noughties saw the arrival of the in-fridge ice
maker, water dispenser and handy grab doors
for quick access to drinks storage.
Fridges also starting converging with other

technology, and in 2000 LG launched the first
internet enabled fridge. Sadly, the net fridge wasnt
a hit, with consumers deciding that it wasnt
everything they needed after all.
These days, iPads and other mobile devices

let us
have those recipes close to hand, and Source: www.realestate.com when
we run out of milk, we can always grab an app to take care of it, rather than rely on the
fridge itself.
6 interesting facts about fridges
Electrolux was the first company to patent the domestic refrigerator in 1922.
In America in the early 1920s a domestic fridge cost on average $600, which is equivalent
to $7000 in todays currency. By the time production reached Australia several years later
the latest model was fetching around $200.
By 1964 its estimated that 94% of Australian homes had a fridge.
The method used to artificially manufacture ice was invented in Australia in 1851 by a
man called James Harrison using an ether compression machine. The shipping of snow
and ice was expensive because Australia is so large and warm and his method made ice
more affordable for the average Aussie family.
From the late 1800s until 1929 fridges used toxic gases ammonia, methyl chloride and
sulfur dioxide as refrigerants. Several people died from fatal toxic gas leaks during this
time.
Sir Francis Bacon was one of the first people to figure out that cold could be used to
preserve meat. He started experimenting with the refrigeration of food in 1626. He
developed pneumonia as a result of his experiments and died a few months later.3
1.3 Components of a refrigerator
1. Compressor is a hermitically sealed reciprocating pump. It is the heart of the

refrigeration system. It pumps refrigerant gas to the different components to effect the
refrigeration cycle. Their sizes are from 1/12 horse power to 1 horse power. R-12
refrigerant gas is commonly used. Newer environmentally friendly refrigerant gas such as
R-134a is being used for the newer models.
2. Condenser is made of serpentine copper tubes with aluminum fins. The combine heat
of gas refrigerant from the Figure 12: Compressor evaporator and the
heat of the compressed gas Source: www.air-conditioning-and-
refrigeration.com
refrigerant from the
compressor is being dissipated into the atmosphere, and changes the gas refrigerant into
liquid refrigerant.
3 A household history of the refrigerator. [online]. Available at: http://www.realestate.com.au/news/a-

household-history-of-the-fridge-2 [Accessed at 9 May 2017]
Figure 13: Condenser
Source: www.air-conditioning-
and-refrigeration.com
3. Filter/dryer It filters the dirt and iron particles from the
refrigerant. Some filter Dryer have moisture absorbent materials like, Silica gel or
synthetic silicates, which removes moisture from the refrigerant. The filter/dryer protects
the compressor by restricting and filtering the impurities and moisture contents in the
refrigerant.
Figure 14: Filter/dryer

4. Expansion Valve copper and-refrigeration.com capillary tube, or
"expansion valve", is widely used on refrigeration appliances. Their outside diameter is
2.5mm, and their length is between 8 feet to 12 feet. High pressure liquid refrigerant
leaves the capillary tube into low-pressure low-temperature liquid refrigerant.
Figure 15: Expansion Valve

5. Evaporator is a serpentine aluminum tubes with aluminum fins. It absorbs the heat in
the freezing and refrigerating compartments and transfers it to the condenser. The low
pressure liquid refrigerant turns to gas after absorbing the heat. And is ready to make its
journey through the accumulator then to the compressor.
Figure 16: Evaporator

Source: www.air-
conditioning-and-
refrigeration.com
6. Accumulator is a refrigerant tank. It stores refrigerant so that the evaporator will not
run out of it. Without an accumulator, the 2-door no-frost refrigerating unit will exhibit
the symptom of refrigerant starvation.
Figure 17: Accumulator

Source: www.air-
conditioning-and-
7. refrigeration.com Refrigerator-Fan-motor The fan motor of a 2-door no-
frost is situated at the back of the evaporator coils, and it blows the air into the freezer-
coils and distribute the air into the freezing and refrigerating compartments. The room
area of the freezer is very much smaller than that of the refrigerator, therefore the
temperature can be maintained at a few degrees below 0 Centigrade.
Figure 18:
Refrigerator fan
motor
Source: www.air-
8. conditioning-and- Freezer-Fan-Motor The fan motor of a freezer is used to cool
refrigeration.com
the compressor. It is situated beside the compressor in the
compressor room. It has a stand and steel bracket, and is bolted into a cross-member. The
fan runs together with the compressor. Care should be taken not to bend the fan blade
during maintenance. The aluminum blade can vibrate furiously and is detrimental to the
shaft bearings and can cause early breakdown. 4
Figure 19: Freezer fan motor

1.4 Classification of refrigerators
Top Freezer Refrigerators
4 Refrigerator. [online]. Availableat: http://www.air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com/Refrigerator-

components.html [Accessed at 9 May 2017]
Top freezer fridges are the most popular type of
refrigerator as they tend to be the least expensive.
Traditionally these appliances feature a freezer on top and
a refrigerator at the bottom. The freezer typically makes
up about a third of the unit's total size. These fridges have
a lot of room and one can easily store larger dishes. The
design is familiar to most people, and these refrigerators
are not as pricey as other models. However, top freezer
refrigerators are not flexible when it comes to installation
and they require wide, deep spaces to allow the door to
fully open. Children and shorter adults may also not be able to reach items at the back of the
freezer.
Figure 20: Top freezer refrigerator

Source: www.ebay.com
Bottom Freezer
Fridges
Bottom freezer refrigerators are designed along the same lines as top
freezer models, but with the freezer at the bottom. The freezer section
at the bottom can be designed to open like a door or pull out like a
drawer. With these models the fresh food section is at a more
convenient level and one does not need to bend down to access it.
While these fridges are a little more expensive than top freezer models,
they are still economically priced. Similar to top freezer refrigerators,
they require the same type of space for installation and are not
particularly flexible. In addition, these fridges may have less packing
space in the fresh food section and access to frozen foods may be less
convenient than with top-freezer models.
Figure 21: Bottom freezer fridge

Side-by-Side Refrigerators Source: www.ebay.com
Side - by - side fridges feature refrigerator and freezer
compartments that are parallel to each other, and both
take up the full length of the appliance. Each
compartment has a door that opens from the middle of
the fridge, like the doors on a cabinet or closet.
Although the refrigerator side is often slightly wider
than the freezer side, both are narrower than those
found in bottom freezer fridges. The narrow design is
great for smaller kitchens as less space is needed for the
doors to open fully. One also has easy access to both
frozen and fresh foods, with a lot of freezer space.
These fridges often feature extras like ice and water dispensers in the doors. Disadvantages of
this design include limited space for bigger items (like frozen pizzas) and less space for fresh
food items. Side-by-side Figure 22: Side by side refrigerator models tend to be more
expensive than basic fridges.
French Door Fridges

French door fridges combine the side-by-side design with a
bottom freezer. Although these refrigerators are among the
most expensive models, they give users the best of both
worlds. Wide shelves in both sections mean that one has
enough space to store anything from platters to pizzas.
French door fridges are available in a range of designs, with
some featuring three doors and others featuring four. Most
models feature extras like through-the-door water and ice
dispensers. These fridges are elegant and aesthetically
pleasing, can hold a variety of foods, and narrow doors
make for more flexible installation. Four-door models have adjustable cooling areas to deliver the
best performance.
Counter Depth Refrigerators

Counter depth fridges have a shallower profile than standard
depth fridges. This allows these models to blend in with built-in
cupboards and cabinets for a seamless look. Although they take
up less space, they generally offer less storage space. To
compensate for this, some models are wider. Usually side-by-
side, French door, or bottom freezer fridges are also available in
this design, and they tend to be more expensive than their
standard depth counterparts.
Figure 24: Counter depth

refrigerator
Figure 23: French door fridge

Compact Fridges
Compact fridges are miniature versions of traditional
refrigerators, and are perfect for compact spaces like dorm
rooms or home offices. Most have little to no freezing
capacity, with some featuring a freezing compartment inside
the fridge compartment. Some designer compact fridges
come with separate freezing compartments like full size
fridges.
Figure 2524: Compact fridge

Freezerless Refrigerators
A freezerless fridge does not have a freezer compartment. The entire unit is used only for cooling
fresh foods. This is a great option if one has a full-sized chest freezer for frozen goods or if one
does not need to freeze a lot of food.
Refrigerator Drawers
Refrigerated drawers are installed under one's
kitchen countertop, like a dishwasher. These
cooled drawers are pulled out to allow one
access to fresh foods and perishables.
Refrigerated drawers are often seen in luxury
kitchens and are expensive. They cannot keep
Figure 25: Refrigerator drawers
food frozen and are not energy Source: www.ebay.com efficient.
Wine and Drinks Coolers
Wine and beverage coolers are designed
specifically to keep drinks cool and are
sometimes known as cellars. They range from
basic, compact models to elaborate, full-size
refrigerators with enough space to store
hundreds of bottles. Top-of-the-range models
feature multi zone digital temperature regulation
to keep different wines and drinks at the optimal
drinking temperature.5
Figure 26: Wine and drinks cooler

1.5 Energy efficiency
5 What Are all the Different Types of Refrigerators. [online]. Available at:
http://www.ebay.com/gds/What-Are-all-the-Different-Types-of-
Refrigerators-/10000000177628294/g.html [Accessed at 9 May 2017]
In a house without air-conditioning (space heating
and/or cooling) refrigerators consumed more
energy than any other home device. In the early
1990s a competition was held among the major
manufacturers to encourage energy efficiency.
Current US models that are Energy Star qualified
use 50% less energy than the average models made
in 1974. The most energy-efficient unit made in the
US consumes about half a kilowatt-hour per day
(equivalent to 20 W continuously). But even
ordinary units are quite efficient; some smaller
units use less than 0.2 kWh per day (equivalent to 8
W continuously). Larger units, especially those
with large freezers and icemakers, may use as much
as 4 kW/h per day (equivalent to 170 W
continuously). The European Union uses a letter-
based mandatory energy efficiency rating label
instead of the Energy Star; thus, EU refrigerators at
the point of sale are labelled according to how
energy-efficient they are.
Many refrigerators made in the 1930s and 1940s
were far more efficient than most that were made
later. This is partly attributable to the addition of
new features, such as auto-defrost, that reduced
efficiency. Additionally,after World War 2,
refrigerator style became more important than
efficiency. This was especially true in the 1970s,
when side-by-side models with ice dispensers and
water chillers became popular. However, the reduction in efficiency also arose partly from
reduction in the amount of insulation to cut costs. Because of the introduction of new energy
efficiency standards, refrigerators made today are much more efficient than those made in the
1930s; they consume the same amount of
energy while being three times as large. Figure 27: European energy label for a fridge
Source: Wikipedia
Regarding total life-cycle costs, many governments offer incentives to encourage recycling of old
refrigerators. One example is the Phoenix refrigerator program launched in Australia. This
government incentive picked up old refrigerators, paying their owners for "donating" the
refrigerator. The refrigerator was then refurbished, with new door seals, a thorough cleaning and
the removal of items, such as the cover that is strapped to the back of many older units. The
resulting refrigerators, now over 10% more efficient, were then distributed to low income
families.
Chapter II. Market analysis
On the Romanian market, there is a large range of refrigerators that comes from import, but also
we have our own producers, like Arctic. In order to realize this case study, we have chosen the
following 5 brands: ARCTIC, BEKO, SAMSUNG, WHIRLPOOL and LG.
ARCTIC is the largest Romanian household appliances producer and one of the largest
refrigerators producer in Europe and it is located in Geti, Dmbovia County. The company was
bought in 2002 by the largest household appliances manufacturer in Turkey, Arelik. The
company has a production capacity of 2.6 million refrigerators per year. Its products are also
made in Russia and Turkey and some Beko fridges are built in this plant.6
BEKO is a Turkish domestic appliance and consumer electronics brand of Arelik A.. It was
founded by Vehbi Ko , the founder of Ko Holding (who also founded Arelik A..,the parent
company of Beko, in 1955), and Leon Bejerano in Istanbul, Turkey, 1967.
In 2004, Beko Elektronik purchased the German electronics company Grundig and by January
2005, Beko and its rival Turkish electronics and white goods brand Vestel accounted for more
than half of all TV sets manufactured in Europe.
Beko is a budget brand name and continues to be in use for a number of Arelik A.. products
such as television sets, refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers, in several countries.7
SAMSUNG is a South Korean multinational electronics company headquartered in Suwon,
South Korea. Through extremely complicated ownership structure with some circular ownership,
it is the flagship division of the Samsung Group, accounting for 70% of the group's revenue in
2012. It is the world's second largest information technology company by revenue, after Apple.
Samsung Electronics has assembly plants and sales networks in 80 countries and employs around
370,000 people. Since 2012, Kwon Oh-hyun has served as the company's CEO.
The company focuses on four areas: digital media, semiconductor, telecommunication network
and LCD digital appliances.
The digital-media business area covers computer devices such as laptop computers and laser
printers; digital displays such as televisions and computer monitors; and consumer entertainment
devices such as DVD players, MP3 players and digital camcorders; and home appliances such as
refrigerators, air conditioners, air purifiers, washers, microwave ovens, and vacuum cleaners.8
6 Arctic SE. [online]. Available at: https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_SA [Accessed at 9 May 2107]
7 Beko. [online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beko [Accessed at 9 May 2017]
8 Samsung Electronics. [online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Electronics

[Accessed at 9 May 2017]
WHIRLPOOL is an American multinational manufacturer and marketer of home appliances,
headquartered in Benton Charter Township, Michigan, United States, near Benton Harbor,
Michigan. The Fortune 500 company has annual revenue of approximately $21 billion, 100,000
employees, and more than 70 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world.
The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Gladiator
GarageWorks, Inglis, Estate, Brastemp, Bauknecht, Indesit, and Consul. Whirlpool Corporation is
the world's largest home appliance maker.
Whirlpool entered the Indian market in the late 1980s as part of its global expansion strategy. In
1995, Whirlpool acquired Kelvinator India Limited and marked an entry into the refrigerator
market as well.9
LG is a South Korean multinational electronics company headquartered in Yeouido-dong, Seoul,

South Korea, and is part of the LG Group, employing 82,000 people working in 119 local
subsidiaries worldwide. With 2014 global sales of USD 55.91 billion (KRW 59.04 trillion), LG
comprises four business units: Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance
& Air Solution, and Vehicle Components, with Starion India as its main production vendor for
refrigeration and washing machines in the Indian sub-continent. The CEO of LG Electronics is
Bon-joon Koo, who assumed the role of vice chairman of LG Electronics on 1 October 2010. In
2011, LG Electronics was the world's second-largest television manufacturer.10
9 Whirlpool Corporation [online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whirlpool_Corporation [Accessed at 9

May 2017]
10 LG Electronics Inc. [online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LG_Electronics [Accessed at

9 May 2017]
Chapter III. Comparative analysis of refrigerators quality
1. We have chosen 5 refrigerators from 5 different manufacturers. We have chosen the most
sold products from www.emag.com
Performance Samsung Whirlpool LG
Arctic Beko DBK
characteristic RB31FDRNDS BLF 9121 GBB59PZKV
AND275+ 386 WDR+
s A W S
Total net
259 325 308 369 318
volume
Energy
consumption 240 281 297 321 306
(kWh/an)
Energy
A+ A+ A+ A+ A+
efficiency
Net volume
49 90 98 111 93
frizzer
Price (lei) 949 1089 1649 1149 1579
Table 1: Characteristics of refrigerators
2. There are the 5 marks we gave for the characteristics of the products.
Performance 1 2 3 4 5 marks p
Characteristic
s
Total net 8 9 8 10 9 44 P1=44/186=0.23
volume 6
Energy 10 10 9 8 9 46 P2=46/186=0.24
consumption 7
(kWh/an)
Energy 10 10 10 10 10 50 P3=50/186=0.26
efficiency 8
Net Volume 8 9 10 10 9 46 P4=46/186=0.24
frizzer 7
Total 186
Table 2: Marks for the characteristics
3. We have determined the directly proportional to quality characteristics and also the
inversely related to quality characteristics.
Total net volume Inverse related to quality

Energy consumption (kWh/an) Inverse related to quality
Net volume frizzer Direct proportional to quality
Table 3: The relation to the quality characteristics

4. We have chosen the reference product:
Samsung RB31FDRNDSA- reference product.

and we made the following notational convention:
Arctic AND275+ AR
Beko DBK 386 WDR+ BK
Samsung RB31FDRNDSA SA
Whirlpool BLF 9121 W WH
LG GBB59PZKVS LG
5. We calculated the complex index of quality ( I cq ) for each product.
- For the Arctic AND275+ refrigerator:
IcqAR = total net volume SA /total net volume AR* p1 +energy consumption SA
/ energy consumption AR * p2 +net volume AR / net volume SA * p4+p3
IcqAR= 308 / 259 * 0.236 + 297 / 240 * 0.247 + 49 / 98 * 0.247 + 0.268 = 0.9765
- For the Beko DBK 386 WDR+ refrigerator:

IcqBK= total net volume SA/total net volume BK*p1 + energy consumption SA/
energy consumption BK* p2 + net volume BK/ net volume SA*p4 + p3
IcqBK= 308/325 * 0.236 + 297/281 * 0.247 + 90/98 * 0.247 + 0.268 = 0.9788

- For the Samsung RB31FDRNDSA refrigerator:
IcqSA = total net volume SA/total net volume SA* p1 + energy consumption SA/
energy consumption SA* p2 + net volume SA/ net volume SA* p4 + p3
IcqSA = 308/308 * 0.236 + 297/297* 0.247 + 98/98* 0.247 + 0.268 = 0.998
- For the Whirlpool BLF 9121 W refrigerator:

IcqWH = total net volume SA/total net volume WH * p1 + energy consumption
SA/energy consumption WH * p2 + net volume WH/ net volume SA * p4 + p3
IcqWH= 308/369 * 0.236 + 297/321* 0.247 + 111/98 * 0.247 + 0.268 = 0.971
- For the LG GBB59PZKVS refrigerator:
IcqLG = total net volume SA/ total net volume LG*p1 + energy consumption
SA/energy consumption LG *p2 + net volume LG/net volume SA*p4 + p3
IcqLG = 308/318 * 0.236 + 297/306 * 0.247 + 93/98 * 0.247 + 0.268 = 0.969
6. This is the list of the 5 products in decreasing order by their complex index of quality.
IcqSA = 0.998
IcqBK = 0.978
IcqAR = 0.976
IcqWH = 0.971
IcqLG = 0.969
Complex index of quality
1.01
1
1
0.99
0.98
0.98
0.98
0.97
0.97
0.97
0.96
0.95
SA BK AR WH LG
Taking into consideration the complex index of quality the best alternative is
represented by Samsung RB31FDRNDSA refrigerator with a value of 0.998.
7. We calculated the quality/price ratio (Rcp) for each product.
- For the Arctic AND275+ refrigerator:

RcpAR = (price SA/ price AR) * IcqAR
RcpAR = (1649/949) * 0.976 = 1.695
- For the Beko DBK 386 WDR+ refrigerator:
RcpBK = (price SA/ price BK) * IcqBK

RcpBK = (1649/1089) * 0.978 = 1.480
- For the Samsung RB31FDRNDSA refrigerator:
RcpSA = (price SA/ price SA) * IcqSA

RcpSA = (1649/1649) * 0.998 = 0.998
- For the Whirlpool BLF 9121 W refrigerator:
RcpWH = (price SA/ price WH) * IcqWH

RcpWH = (1649/1149) * 0.971 = 1.393
- For the LG GBB59PZKVS refrigerator:
RcpLG = (price SA/ price LG) * IcqLG

RcpLG = (1649/1579) * 0.969 = 1.011
8. We arranged this 5 products in the decreasing order by the quality / price ratio.
RcpAR = 1.695
RcpBK = 1.480
RcpWH = 1.393
RcpLG = 1.011
RcpSA = 0.998
RCP
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
RcpAR Rcp BK RcpWH RcpLG RcpSA
After the quality / price ratio the best alternative is represented by Arctic AND275+
refrigerator.
Conclusions
After doing the comparative analysis of the five types of refrigerators: Arctic AND275+ Beko
DBK 386 WDR+, Samsung RB31FDRNDSA, Whirlpool BLF 9121 W, LG GBB59PZKVS and
choosing Samsung RB31FDRNDSA as the reference product, we can conclude the following:
Regarding the complex index of quality, we can admit that the best option is represented
by Samsung.
Regarding quality/price ratio the winner is Arctic. It has a moderate price compared to the
other 4 refrigerators and its convenient features makes it the best alternative. People can choose
between buying a cheaper refrigerator with less characteristics or paying a moderate price for a
more advanced refrigerator like Samsung.
In conclusion, the comparative analysis helped us to find out which refrigerator represents
the best alternative for satisfying peoples needs.
Bibliography
Websites
Wikipedia, 2017. Refrigerators. [online]. Available at:

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator> [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Realistate.com, 2017. A household history of the fridge. [online]. Available at:
<http://www.realestate.com.au/news/a-household-history-of-the-fridge-2/> [Accessed on
9 May 2017].
Air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com, 2017. Refrigerator Components, Freezer
Components. [online]. Available at: < http://www.air-conditioning-and-
refrigeration.com/Refrigerator-components.html> [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Ebay.com, 2016. What are all the different types of refrigerators. [online].Available at:
<http://www.ebay.com/gds/What-Are-all-the-Different-Types-of-
Refrigerators-/10000000177628294/g.html> [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Camerondfowler.weebly.com, 2017. Importance of refrigerators. [online].Available at:
<http://camerondfowler.weebly.com/importance-of-refrigerators-in-our-everyday-lives.html>
[Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Emag.ro, 2017. Frigider cu doua usi Arctic. [online]. Available at:
< http://www.emag.ro/frigider-cu-doua-usi-arctic-259-l-clasa-a-h-159-8-cm-alb-
and275/pd/D9T0VMBBM/ > [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Emag.ro, 2017. Combina frigorifica Beko. [online]. Available at:
<http://www.emag.ro/combina-frigorifica-beko-dbk-386-wdr-325-l-clasa-a-h-201-cm-dispenser-
apa-alb-dbk-386wdr/pd/ELWG7BBBM/> [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Emag.ro, 2017. Combina frigorifica Samsung. [online]. Available at:
<http://www.emag.ro/combina-frigorifica-samsung-310-l-clasa-a-full-no-frost-h-185-cm-
dispenser-apa-argintiu-rb31fdrndsa/pd/EVFBNBBBM/> [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Emag.ro, 2017. Combina frigorifica Whirlpool. [online]. Available at:
<http://www.emag.ro/combina-frigorifica-whirlpool-370-l-clasa-a-6th-sense-h-201-cm-alb-blf-
9121-w/pd/DSWKCMBBM/> [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Emag.ro, 2017. Combina frigorifica LG. [online]. Available at:
<http://www.emag.ro/combina-frigorifica-lg-318-l-clasa-a-full-no-frost-h-190-cm-argintiu-
gbb59pzkvs/pd/DQS0V2BBM/> [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Wikipedia, 2017. Whirlpool. [online]. Available at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whirlpool_Corporation> [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Wikipedia, 2017. Arctic. [online]. Available at: <https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_SA>
Wikipedia, 2017. Beko. [online]. Available at: < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beko>
Wikipedia, 2017. Samsung. [online]. Available at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Electronics> [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Wikipedia, 2017. LG. [online]. Available at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LG_Electronics> [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Images
Wikipedia, 2017. Schematic of Dr. John Gorrie's 1841 mechanical ice machine. [image
online]. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gorrie_Ice_Machine.png>
Wikipedia, 2017. Ferdinand Carr's ice-making device. [image online]. Available at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AppareilCarr%C3%A9.jpg> [Accessed on 9 May
2017].
Wikipedia, 2017. McCray pre-electric home refrigerator ad. [image online]. Available at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator#/media/File:Commercial_Refrigerator_Adver
tisement_1905.jpg> [Accessed on 9 May 2017].
Wikipedia, 2017. General Electric "Monitor-Top" refrigerator. [image online]. Available
at: < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator#/media/File:Monitor_refer.jpg> [Accessed
on 9 May 2017].
Realistate.com, 2013. Fridges in 1950. [image online]. Available at:
9 May 2017].
Realistate.com, 2013. Fridges in 1960. [image online]. Available at: <
http://www.realestate.com.au/news/a-household-history-of-the-fridge-2/> [Accessed on 9
May 2017].
9 May 2017].
Realistate.com 2013. Fridges in 1980. [image online]. Available at:
9 May 2017].
Realistate.com, 2013. Fridges in 1990. [image online]. Available at: <
http://www.realestate.com.au/news/a-household-history-of-the-fridge-2/> [Accessed on 9
May 2017].
9 May 2017].
Air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com, 2017. Compressor. [image online]. Available at:
9 May 2017].
Air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com, 2017. Condenser. [image online]. Available at:
9 May 2017].
Air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com, 2017. Filter/dryer. [image online]. Available at:
9 May 2017].
Air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com, 2017. Expansion valve. [image online]. Available
at: <http://www.realestate.com.au/news/a-household-history-of-the-fridge-2/> [Accessed
on 9 May 2017].
Air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com, 2017. Evaporator. [image online]. Available at:
9 May 2017].
Air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com, 2017. Accumulator. [image online]. Available at:
9 May 2017].
Air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com, 2017. Refrigerator fan motor. [image online].
Available at: <http://www.realestate.com.au/news/a-household-history-of-the-fridge-2/>
Air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com, 2017. Freezer fan motor. [image online].
Available at: <http://www.realestate.com.au/news/a-household-history-of-the-fridge-2/>
Ebay.com, 2016. Top freezer refrigerator. [image online]. Available at:
Ebay.com, 2016. Bottom freezer fridges. [image online]. Available at:
Ebay.com, 2016. Side by side refrigerators. [image online]. Available at:
Ebay.com, 2016. French door fridges. [image online]. Available at:
Ebay.com, 2016. Counter depth refrigerators. [image online]. Available at:
Ebay.com, 2016. Compact fridges. [image online]. Available at:
Ebay.com, 2016. Freezerless refrigerators. [image online]. Available at:
Ebay.com, 2016. Refrigerator drawers. [image online]. Available at:
Ebay.com, 2016.Wine and drink coolers. [image online]. Available at:
Wikipedia, 2017. European energy label for a fridge. [image online]. Available at: <
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator#/media/File:Energy_label_2010.svg>

Refrigerators

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Copyright

Formati disponibili

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Refrigerators

Caricato da

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

The Bucharest University of Economic Studies

Faculty of Business and Tourism

Comparative analysis of refrigerator quality

Professor: Doru Pleea PhD Students: Gheorghe Sebastian

A refrigerator (colloquially fridge) is a popular household appliance that consists of a thermally

1.2 Short History

The first practical vapor compression refrigeration system

Figure 2: Ferdinand Carr's ice-making device.

The first refrigerator to see widespread use was the General

The first successful application of frozen foods occurred

The evolution of refrigerators:

2 Refrigerator [online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator [Accessed at 9 May 2017]

Figure 6: Fridges in 1950

Figure 7: Fridges in 1960

Figure 8: Fridges in 1970

Figure 9: Fridges in 1980

Fridges also starting converging with other

These days, iPads and other mobile devices

6 interesting facts about fridges

1.3 Components of a refrigerator

1. Compressor is a hermitically sealed reciprocating pump. It is the heart of the

3 A household history of the refrigerator. [online]. Available at: http://www.realestate.com.au/news/a-

Figure 14: Filter/dryer

Figure 15: Expansion Valve

Figure 16: Evaporator

Figure 17: Accumulator

Figure 19: Freezer fan motor

1.4 Classification of refrigerators

Top Freezer Refrigerators

4 Refrigerator. [online]. Availableat: http://www.air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com/Refrigerator-

Figure 20: Top freezer refrigerator

Figure 21: Bottom freezer fridge

French Door Fridges

Counter Depth Refrigerators

Figure 24: Counter depth

Figure 23: French door fridge

Figure 2524: Compact fridge

Figure 26: Wine and drinks cooler

1.5 Energy efficiency

6 Arctic SE. [online]. Available at: https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_SA [Accessed at 9 May 2107]

7 Beko. [online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beko [Accessed at 9 May 2017]

8 Samsung Electronics. [online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Electronics

LG is a South Korean multinational electronics company headquartered in Yeouido-dong, Seoul,

9 Whirlpool Corporation [online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whirlpool_Corporation [Accessed at 9

10 LG Electronics Inc. [online]. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LG_Electronics [Accessed at

Total net volume Inverse related to quality

Table 3: The relation to the quality characteristics

Samsung RB31FDRNDSA- reference product.

5. We calculated the complex index of quality ( I cq ) for each product.

- For the Arctic AND275+ refrigerator:

/ energy consumption AR * p2 +net volume AR / net volume SA * p4+p3

- For the Beko DBK 386 WDR+ refrigerator:

IcqBK= 308/325 * 0.236 + 297/281 * 0.247 + 90/98 * 0.247 + 0.268 = 0.9788

IcqSA = 308/308 * 0.236 + 297/297* 0.247 + 98/98* 0.247 + 0.268 = 0.998

- For the Whirlpool BLF 9121 W refrigerator:

IcqWH= 308/369 * 0.236 + 297/321* 0.247 + 111/98 * 0.247 + 0.268 = 0.971

- For the LG GBB59PZKVS refrigerator:

IcqLG = 308/318 * 0.236 + 297/306 * 0.247 + 93/98 * 0.247 + 0.268 = 0.969

7. We calculated the quality/price ratio (Rcp) for each product.

- For the Arctic AND275+ refrigerator:

- For the Beko DBK 386 WDR+ refrigerator:

RcpBK = (price SA/ price BK) * IcqBK

- For the Samsung RB31FDRNDSA refrigerator:

RcpSA = (price SA/ price SA) * IcqSA