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Isn't the difference that a refrigerator is a closed system whereas many industrial/workshop air compressors are open and must maintain relatively high pressure due to a "controlled leak"? I am certainly no expert but they don't seem the same to me?

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Cut a pipe on the back of a fridge and it'll run open circuit just fine. Doesn't make it appreciably louder. (beware, some fridge gasses are illegal to vent to the atmosphere, and others are pretty explosive)

> Cut a pipe on the back of a fridge and it'll run open circuit just fine

Try to run a plasma cutter, or a 1" impact wrench out of a fridge compressor...

Those things also don't need 400psi.

A modified fridge compressor could have 4x the capacity at 100psi and be suitable for a small workshop.

Do you understand the concept of air flow at a specific pressure ? 15CFM at 90psi is no small feat.

Lowering working pressure does not increase CFM, pump have a fixed displacement at their most efficient RPM, it's not gonna change...

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