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Theoretical and experimental analysis of heat storage material integration in household refrigerators.

Author(s) : BOENG J., GONCALVES J. M.

Type of article: IJR article

Summary

In recent years, the application of heat storage materials (HSMs), particularly phase change materials (PCMs), in heat exchangers and/or refrigerated compartments of household refrigerators has increased substantially. This growth has been primarily driven by the implementation of stringent energy efficiency enhancement policies. The present study first provides a theoretical analysis of the impact of integrating HSMs into refrigerated compartments and heat exchangers of a refrigerator. Specifically, it elucidates the mechanism by which an HSM decreases the difference between condensing and evaporating temperatures and examines the behavior of this attenuation as a function of the compressor run-time ratio and the heat transfer coefficients involved. Subsequently, the study experimentally investigates the effects of incorporating HSMs into natural-draft condensers of household refrigerators. Four distinct types of HSMs were attached to a natural-draft wire-and-tube condenser of an A++ European single-compartment refrigerator. The performance of the refrigerator, with and without HSMs, was assessed through standardized energy consumption tests conducted under varying system operating conditions. Energy savings of up to 7.4 % were achieved by attaching 700 g of a copolymer compound to the condenser. The findings reveal that optimal system performance is associated with specific compressor on-time and off-time periods, which are influenced by the condenser size, HSM attachment method, and material thermal capacity. Furthermore, energy savings were observed to be more pronounced at lower compressor run-time ratios and shorter compressor on-time intervals. These observations suggest that the application of HSMs in natural-draft condensers is not recommended for systems equipped with variable-speed compressors.

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Pages: 153-166

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Details

  • Original title: Theoretical and experimental analysis of heat storage material integration in household refrigerators.
  • Record ID : 30033829
  • Languages: English
  • Source: International Journal of Refrigeration - Revue Internationale du Froid - vol. 173
  • Publication date: 2025/05
  • DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2025.02.007

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