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Effect of Vacuum Insulation Panels on Energy Consumption and Thermal Load Transfer between Compartments in a Three-Temperature Frost-Free Refrigerator

Author

Listed:
  • Rijing Zhao

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi’an 710049, China)

  • Lin Qiao

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi’an 710049, China)

  • Zijian Gao

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi’an 710049, China)

  • Dong Huang

    (School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi’an 710049, China)

Abstract

The three-temperature frost-free refrigerator is popular in China currently, which adopts a single evaporator and separate air ducts to distribute cold air into all compartments, i.e., the fresh food compartment (FFC), the variable temperature compartment (VTC), and the freezer compartment (FZC). Two identical refrigerators with cyclopentane insulation are comparatively studied in this article, one with vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) in two sidewalls and the other without. Results show that VIPs reduce the steady-state energy consumption of the refrigerator by 12.4% due to smaller average power input and longer compressor-off duration. The decrease in average power input originates from a shorter FFC-damper-on duration since VIPs reduce its thermal load. However, the FFC average temperature rises unexpectedly with shorter damper-on and longer damper-off durations, and induces thermal load transfer from FFC to FZC through the mixing of return air in the evaporator chamber. Consequently, FZC-only duration increases and compensates for the decrease in FFC-damper-on duration, resulting in an overall similar compressor-on duration. Simulation results of the heat transfer process through the evaporator are also provided in both cases to obtain a full view of the thermal load transfer process.

Suggested Citation

  • Rijing Zhao & Lin Qiao & Zijian Gao & Dong Huang, 2020. "Effect of Vacuum Insulation Panels on Energy Consumption and Thermal Load Transfer between Compartments in a Three-Temperature Frost-Free Refrigerator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:7:p:1559-:d:337996
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barbosa Jr., Jader R. & Melo, Cláudio & Hermes, Christian J.L. & Waltrich, Paulo J., 2009. "A study of the air-side heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of tube-fin [`]no-frost' evaporators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(9), pages 1484-1491, September.
    2. Sevindir, M. Kemal & Demir, Hakan & Ağra, Özden & Atayılmaz, Ş. Özgür & Teke, İsmail, 2017. "Modelling the optimum distribution of insulation material," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 74-84.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fei Wang & Rijing Zhao & Wenming Xu & Dong Huang & Zhiguo Qu, 2021. "A Heater-Assisted Air Source Heat Pump Air Conditioner to Improve Thermal Comfort with Frost-Retarded Heating and Heat-Uninterrupted Defrosting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Qi Chen & Yinsong Li, 2022. "Experimental Investigation on Intermittent Operation Characteristics of Dual-Temperature Refrigeration System Using Hydrocarbon Mixture," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-19, May.

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