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Optimization of energy consumption and temperature fluctuations for a household freezer using non‐toxic and non‐flammable eutectic phase change materials with a cascade arrangement
Author(s) -
Pirvaram Anahita,
Sadrameli Seyed Mojtaba,
Abdolmaleki Leila
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.5853
Subject(s) - eutectic system , melting temperature , flammable liquid , phase change material , materials science , energy consumption , phase change , cascade , environmental science , thermodynamics , nuclear engineering , composite material , chemistry , electrical engineering , engineering , microstructure , physics , chromatography
Summary This study conducted to evaluate the effect that melting temperature and the amount of phase change materials (PCMs) has on energy consumption and temperature behavior of a household freezer. Two eutectic PCMs, serving as cold storage elements, were innovatively configured in a cascade‐like arrangement on six trays of a freezer with respect to the air temperature distribution of the interior compartment in order to reduce temperature fluctuations inside the freezer and to lower energy consumption. The experimental results showed that the maximum reduction in energy consumption (13.42%) occurred by placing three PCM packs of 1.5 kg with a melting temperature of −18°C on the three upper trays of the freezer and three PCM packs of 1.5 kg with a melting temperature of −20°C on three trays located on the lower side of the freezer. The optimal values were 1.97 kg of PCM with a melting temperature of −18°C and 1.57 kg of PCM with a melting temperature of −20°C to achieve the highest reduction rates of energy consumption and temperature fluctuations.