Development, Validation, and Application of a Refrigerator Simulation Model

Woodall, R.J.; Bullard, C.W.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/11310 Copy

Description

Title

Development, Validation, and Application of a Refrigerator Simulation Model

Author(s)

• Woodall, R.J.
• Bullard, C.W.

Issue Date

1996-06

Keyword(s)

refrigerator systems analysis

Abstract

This report describes the further development and validation of the Refrigerator/Freezer Simulation (RFSIM) model. The reports also describes the first major application of the model as an analysis tool for new refrigerator designs; several aspects of multi-speed compressor operation were examined with the model. Several improvements were made to the model that facilitated the validation process and the examination of multi-speed compressors: the model was made more general so that it could operate in numerous configurations in addition to the original design and simulation modes; many improvements were made in the modeling logic and robustness of the capillary tube-suction line heat exchanger model; and the equation-of-statebased property routines that calculated the thermodynamic properties were replaced with interpolation routines that were much faster. The RFSIM model, in design and simulation mode, was validated with data from two refrigerators. In both modes, the average model errors were less than ±5% for several important variables such as evaporator capacity and coefficient of performance. The errors of the simulation mode were reduced from the previous model validation primarily by using a different void fraction correlation in the refrigerant charge equations. The results from the validated RFSIM model indicate that a two-speed compressor could yield energy savings of 4% to 14% due to the increased steady-state efficiency at the low speed and an additional 0.5 to 4% savings due to the decreased cycling frequency. The results also showed that the capillary tube-suction line heat exchanger, when designed for the low speed, did not adversely affect the pull-down capacity when the compressor operated at the high speed. Lastly, it was found that a refrigerator operating at low ambient temperatures could actually benefit from a decrease in the condenser fan speed. This change in fan speed increased the evaporator capacity by reallocating charge to the evaporator and subsequently reducing the superheat at the evaporator exit.

Publisher

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center. College of Engineering. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Series/Report Name or Number

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center TR-99

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/11310

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Project 66

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