If there is an innovator in the refrigerator market, it is Liebherr. We remember for example the BLU Performance technology which moved the elements of the cold circuit under the device to improve the efficiency of the latter. After having improved the creation of cold, Liebherr is therefore tackling the preservation of freshness with the BluRoX system. In itself, the idea is very simple: replace insulating foam (mainly found in doors) from the petrochemical industry with a material that is more efficient and less harmful to nature. And it is perlite, a volcanic rock, which must fulfill this mission.
According to the assertions of the manufacturer, perlite conducts heat very poorly, which therefore makes it an ideal choice for a refrigerator in which the preservation of freshness is essential. Thanks to this rock, “the annual electricity consumption of a family model of around 350 l would decrease by 20%” promises Steffen Nagel, Director of Sales and Marketing at Liebherr-Hausgeräte. Another advantage of perlite is that it takes up less space than traditional foams (about 1/3 less, according to the information we have). The walls being thinner, the interior volumes are therefore greater for comparable exterior dimensions. Note that Samsung also relies on the thinning of the walls of its SpaceMax refrigerators to gain interior volume. Finally, and this is significant at a time when reducing ecological costs is becoming increasingly important, perlite is a recyclable material, unlike the petrochemical insulation traditionally used.
This is not the first time that volcanic rock has been used in household appliances. It is also found in dishwashers, because zeolite has the amazing property of heating up when it absorbs moisture, which necessarily improves drying performance.
Currently, no Liebherr devices with BluRoX technology are available. First representative of this new range, the NoFrost FNb 5056 freezer should be marketed at the beginning of next year for a price still unknown.