Heat transfer and air flow in a domestic refrigerator

Onrawee Laguerre (1)

1 UR GPAN - Génie des procédés frigorifiques

The objective of this chapter is to present the state of the art of knowledge on heat transfer and airflow by natural convection in domestic refrigerators. Several subjects are dealt with: literature review of natural convection in closed cavity, cold production system of domestic refrigerators, temperatures and different heat transfer modes in appliances. Finally, an example of heat transfer analysis and numerical simulation in a typical refrigerator will be shown. Knowledge of air temperature and velocity profiles in a refrigerator is important for food quality control. In fact, if the consumer knows the position of warm and cold zones in the refrigerator, the product can be placed correctly. Knowledge of thermal and hydrodynamic boundary layers near the evaporator and the other walls is also important. If the product is too close to the evaporator wall, freezing can occur, and if it is too close to the other walls, there may be health risks.

Mots clés: TRANSFERT DE CHALEUR; REFRIGERATEUR; AIRFLOW; NATURAL CONVECTION

Domaines: Sciences de l'environnement

Onrawee Laguerre. Heat transfer and air flow in a domestic refrigerator. Mathematical Modelling of Food Processing, Mohammed M. Farid (ed.), CRC Press, p. 445 - p. 474, 2010, Contemporary Food Engineering, 9781420053517. ⟨hal-00583230⟩