Performance Enhancement of a Refrigerator Using Phase Change Material-Based Condenser: An Experimental Investigation

TLDR: In this article, the authors presented an experimental performance of a domestic refrigerator incorporated with a phase change material (PCM)-based condenser in parallel to the conventional wire-and-tube air-cooled condenser for the climatic conditions of India.

Abstract: Tropical countries like India, the ambient temperature reaches to 45–50∘C in the summer and higher ambient temperature directly impacts the energy required by the household refrigerator. This paper presents an experimental performance of a domestic refrigerator incorporated with a phase change material (PCM)-based condenser in parallel to the conventional wire-and-tube air-cooled condenser for the climatic conditions of India. It is proposed to operate the refrigerator with the PCM-based condenser, while the ambient temperature is higher during the day, otherwise with the air-cooled condenser. Due to large latent heat storage capacity of the PCM, the condenser temperature would not increase significantly. The COP of the PCM-based condenser was 28% higher as compared to air cooled condenser for 60min which reduce to 3% as PCM temperature reached to 33∘C. The energy consumption is lower by ∼15% in 312h of refrigerator experimentation with the proposed modification.