CFD analysis of natural convection heat transfer in a static domestic refrigerator

Abstract

Refrigerating compartment with and without shelves is designed for analyzing the air flow and temperature distributions by using the Simulation software Ansys work bench 14. Comparing the results of the air and temperature distributions inside the refrigerating compartment with and without shelves. Here shelves considered as obstacles and the refrigerator without freezer compartment is considered as a 2D rectangular enclosure one side is assumed as evaporator wall (cold wall) and other side as Door (warm wall). Inside the refrigerator cabin air flow takes by natural convection. Temperature distributions is observed in the compartment without shelves and with shelves and same is compared. In the natural convection heat transfer happens between the internal walls of the refrigerator and air by radiation, conduction and convection. Air flows downward near the cold wall and moves upward near warm wall due to the density variation. As a result, temperature stratification was observed in the refrigerating compartment. Evaporator wall maintains the colder region and door wall has the higher temperature.