Date:
March 28, 2019
Source:
American Institute of Physics
Summary:
While many advancements have been in improving its efficiency, the refrigerator still consumes
considerable energy each year. So researchers in China are working to minimize the cold loss that occurs
at the thermal barrier between inside the freezer and outside the fridge. They hypothesized that using
part of the cold loss to cool the fresh food compartment could be a promising solution.
considerable energy each year. So researchers in China are working to minimize the cold loss that occurs
at the thermal barrier between inside the freezer and outside the fridge. They hypothesized that using
part of the cold loss to cool the fresh food compartment could be a promising solution.
While many advancements have been in improving its efficiency, the refrigerator still consumes
considerable amounts of energy each year.
considerable amounts of energy each year.
"Energy efficiency of a normal refrigerator is affected by the heat-insulating property of the thermal barriers
of the freezer. This is due to its low inner temperature," explained Jingyu Cao at the University of Science
and Technology of China. "There is a significant difference in temperature between the freezer of a
traditional refrigerator and ambient air temperature and the normal thermal barrier of the freezer causes
considerable cold loss."
of the freezer. This is due to its low inner temperature," explained Jingyu Cao at the University of Science
and Technology of China. "There is a significant difference in temperature between the freezer of a
traditional refrigerator and ambient air temperature and the normal thermal barrier of the freezer causes
considerable cold loss."
Cao and his team hypothesized that using part of the cold loss to cool the fresh food compartment could be
a promising solution in improving the efficiency of the refrigerator. They describe their findings in the
Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, from AIP Publishing.
a promising solution in improving the efficiency of the refrigerator. They describe their findings in the
Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, from AIP Publishing.
"The evaporating temperature of the refrigeration cycle depends only on the freezer temperature and
appropriate reduction of the evaporator area in the fresh food compartment will not decrease the overall
efficiency," explained Cao.
appropriate reduction of the evaporator area in the fresh food compartment will not decrease the overall
efficiency," explained Cao.
"Most families need one or two refrigerators and they are always on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
That wastes a lot of energy. Even if we can save a little energy, that helps the human race be more
energy-efficient," said Cao.
That wastes a lot of energy. Even if we can save a little energy, that helps the human race be more
energy-efficient," said Cao.
Cao and his team are not the first scientists to attempt to improve the efficiency of household refrigeration.
Extensive experiments by many different scientists have looked at various parts of the refrigerator to
improve energy consumption, but a definitive solution has not yet been found. In Cao's study, a novel
refrigerator with a loop thermosyphon is put forward to decrease the heat transfer between the freezer and
ambient air.
Extensive experiments by many different scientists have looked at various parts of the refrigerator to
improve energy consumption, but a definitive solution has not yet been found. In Cao's study, a novel
refrigerator with a loop thermosyphon is put forward to decrease the heat transfer between the freezer and
ambient air.
"One of the surprises was how much energy we saved. The energy-saving ratio of the improved walls got
close to 30 percent -- more than we had expected. This technology even works in hot climates like the
desert."
close to 30 percent -- more than we had expected. This technology even works in hot climates like the
desert."
Although Cao's study is currently based on theoretical calculation, the results are promising. "It has great
potential to be popularized as a sustainable energy technology or applied in the renewable energy field,
considering its significant energy-saving effect, simple structure and low cost," said Cao.
potential to be popularized as a sustainable energy technology or applied in the renewable energy field,
considering its significant energy-saving effect, simple structure and low cost," said Cao.
Story Source:
Materials provided by American Institute of Physics. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
visit:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190328150937.htm
visit:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190328150937.htm
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