Optimization of refrigeration process in a cold storage using ANSYS Fluent Simulation

Seyyed Amirreza Abdollahi¹ Amin Didehban² Seyyed Faramarz Ranjbar³ Moharram Jafari⁴

1) Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
2) Center of Excellence in Energy Conversion, School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
3) Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
4) Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Publication : 8th International Conference on Applied Researches in Science & Engineering (8carse.com)
Abstract :
All around the world, tons of agricultural products are spoiled due to bad storage conditions. Since there is a food crisis in many countries, especially in African countries, the necessity of Refrigeration processes and good storage of these food products are outlined evermore. Design calculation of a cold storage can be done via hand calculations but in order to fully simulate the working conditions of a cold storage simulation methods can be used. In this regard even the transient behaviour of the system can be simulated and any required measurements can be taken before hand to alleviate the situation. In this paper a cold storage is simulated using CFD methods via ANSYS Fluent. A parametric study is also conducted on the inlet duct location for two cases; First, the inlet duct is positioned on the wall top section and second, the duct is positioned on the ceiling. Also, the position of the outlet duct is studied in the same manner. the cold storage is to be designed to work in freezing temperatures. The results show that the First case in which the inlet duct is placed on the ceiling lead to a more uniform temperature gradient across the cold storage room, specially in the end of the refrigeration process.
Keywords : Cold storage Transient Behavior CFD method temperature gradient