DIMINUTION OF TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATION INSIDE THE CABIN OF A HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATOR USING PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL

This work shows the effect phase change material (PCM) on temperature fluctuation inside the evaporator cabinet of a household refrigerator. The experiment has been done at different thermal loads with two different PCMs (Water and Eutectic solution (90% H2O + 10% NaCl) of melting point 0°C and -5°C respectively). The PCM is placed around the five sides of the evaporator cabinet in which the evaporator coil is immersed. The experimental results with PCM confirm the notable reduction of the fluctuation of the cabin temperature at lower load but at higher load this effect is not so significant. Between two PCM, the reduction of temperature fluctuation for Eutectic solution is better than water PCM. This reduction of temperature fluctuation ultimately improves the food preservation quality of the refrigerator.

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