Experimental investigation on PCM/fin slab incorporation in a evaporator side of a household refrigerator

Abstract

This paper considers the impact of adding PCM/fin slab on thermal performance and power consumption of an ordinary one-door refrigerator/freezer. The PCM box with different materials is attached to the bottom surface of evaporator. Water with melting temperature of 0 °C is used as a phase change material. To study the effect of enhancing heat conduction through the PCM domain, placing fin with different geometrical configurations in PCM slab is investigated too. The results indicate that the presence of PCM- slab under the surface of the evaporator helps to decrease the cabin temperature due to the potential of PCM in absorbing and releasing cold energy. Also the results show that copper is more appropriate for PCM slab material due to its higher thermal conductivity. Furthermore, distributing the fins in PCM slab helps to narrow down the temperature fluctuations of cabin and decrease the power consumption.

Keywords

• Refrigerator/freezer
• Phase change material
• Fin
• Power consumption
• Slab