Thermal behavior of frozen products paired with PCM during winter and summer power outages

Abstract

The present study examines experimentally the effect of pairing phase change material (PCM) with frozen items (ice/fish) contained in the freezer cabin of an energy-efficient refrigerator. The significance of (PCM) presence was underscored throughout extended periods of electrical grid failure in diverse environmental circumstances. Tests are started by power absence (after cyclic operation) until reaching a temperature of (−2 °C) to avoid ice melting or fish spoilage.The optimal PMR (product to PCM mass ratio) for frozen ice and fish is recommended via the extended under-thawing duration. RSER (Recovered and Saved Energy Ratio) was coined to describe the relationship between the amount of energy saved by utilizing the device during a power outage and the amount of energy the device is designed to consume on a normal day. The highest acquired RSER for ice products is 8.14% at PMR equal to 4.0 under summer conditions, while during winter conditions the highest value of 20.44% is demonstrated at PMR equal to 1.0. On the contrary, fish products reveal the highest RSER values at the same PMR of 5.0 under different ambient conditions. The ratio reached 12.5% during summer conditions, while the RSER acquired 36.5% under winter conditions.

Keywords

• PCM
• Power outage
• Refrigerator
• Ice product and fish product
• Energy saving