Numerical Investigation of the Bottom Cabinet of a Household Refrigerator

Abstract

In this study, the bottom cabinet of a commercial household refrigerator is investigated numerically. The numerical model is formed in two stages. The first stage includes the fan motion, and the second stage includes the heat rejection process at the condenser. The compressor is included in the numerical model to get the accurate simulation of the real conditions. A protective lid covering the condenser and the fan is taken into consideration for both stages of the numerical solution. In the numerical analysis, the total amount of heat transfer, temperature, pressure and velocity gradients and streamlines are studied in detail. Due to the location and the design of the fan, a static fluid region occurs at the mid-section of the condenser. Therefore, the number of wires on the mid-section of the condenser tubes and the cost can be decreased. It is observed that the compressor is also cooled by the discharged air from the condenser.