Edmund Altenkirch was one of the great pioneers of refrigeration technology and thermoelectricity. This book represents the first extended discussion of his work to be made available in English. It provides detailed coverage of both Altenkirch's theoretical and practical work in the field, ranging in time from before the First World War to his death in 1953. Altenkirch's research not only underlay advancements in refrigeration technology and thermoelectric power generation in the first half of the twentieth century, but also provided the basis for developments in green energy production and utilization that are occurring today.