Application study of direct current refrigerator combining phase-change cold storage and mini-electrical storage

With global warming and rising energy consumption, energy conservation, emission reduction, and the development of renewable energy have become critical global priorities. In this context, phase-change refrigeration technology has emerged as a promising solution for energy savings. This paper explores the integration of phase-change cold storage technology and mini-electrical storage technology in direct current(DC) refrigerators. Firstly, household refrigerators were converted to DC operation, and a test bench for phase-change cold storage DC refrigerators was constructed. Subsequently, experimental research was carried out on the temperature maintenance time of the refrigerator after power-off and the energy-saving effect of phase-change cold storage refrigerator in the process. The results demonstrated that the temperature retention time of in the refrigerator's compartments increased by 30 h, 20 h, and 5 h, respectively, after power failure compared to the refrigerator without phase change materials. The 18-h-on/6-h-off mode is the most energy-efficient and cost-effective approach, while the 12-h-on/12-h-off mode offers significant advantages in grid load balancing and system reliability, despite causing minor temperature fluctuations. Moreover, integrating phase-change cold storage with mini-electrical storage not only enhances energy efficiency but also helps reduce carbon emissions.