The Effect of Circulation Fan on Energy Consumption in Nature Convective Refrigerator-Freezer

The effect of the circulation fan installed in fresh food compartment on energy consumption of natural convective refrigerator/freezers (RFs) was experimentally studied. Five different RF models with different cycles were tested. The experimental results showed that the energy consumption of the single-loop cycle RF increased by 2.4%~3.8%, that of the bypass two-circuit cycle RF decreased by 1.0%, and that of the two-circuit cycle RF with its evaporators in parallel when the geometry parameters of refrigeration system and the refrigerant charge were not changed after the circulation fan was installed decreased by 3.3%. When the optimization on the refrigerant charge and the evaporator was carried out, the energy consumption of the single-loop cycle RF , the bypass two-circuit cycle RF and the two-circuit cycle RF with its evaporators in parallel, decreased by 1.0%~6.4%, 3.25% and 3.26% respectively. The present conclusions will provide a guideline to the optimum design for the RF with the circulation fan.