Numerical Study of Domestic Solar Refrigerator Using PCM Storage

Ahmed Abed Saleh

doi:10.15866/ireme.v12i4.14635

Numerical Study of Domestic Solar Refrigerator Using PCM Storage

Ahmed Abed Saleh^(1*)

^(*) Corresponding author

Authors' affiliations

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15866/ireme.v12i4.14635

Abstract

This paper investigates the performance and the ability to use the phase change material (PCM) as a thermal storage refrigerator power by photovoltaic panels installed in Baghdad/Iraq (latitude 33.2 N). The mathematical model used to predict the heat transfer during the phase change is based on the enthalpy method, with the governing equations, separation and distribution on a fixed grid using the finite difference method. The influence of PCM thickness (1, 2, and 4 cm slabs) and ambient temperature (25 °C, 30 °C, and 35 °C) have been investigated numerically. The result showed the ability to utilize a solar system combined with PCM storage Technique in the domestic refrigerator instead of using the electric batteries storage system, where the average temperature inside the refrigerator space reached about 1 °C when the PCM panel thickness was 2 cm, solar cell 6 m2 and ambient temperature 30 °C. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the solidification (phase change) of PCM panel completed after 3000 minutes for 2 cm thickness and 8 m2 area at ambient temperature 25 °C, using only the solar system without any contribution of external energy.
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Keywords

Photovoltaic Panels; PCM; Thermal Storage; Numerical Study; Enthalpy Method

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