A CFD MODEL FOR BUOYANCY DRIVEN FLOWS INSIDE REFRIGERATED CABINETS AND FREEZERS

摘要

The streamfunction ― vorticity formulation is implemented in a CFD code for the analysis of air flow patterns and temperature distributions in closed cavities, more specifically refrigerated cabinets and freezers. The model is based on the mass, momentum and energy conservation principles. The flow is treated as incompressible and the buoyancy terms are modeled according to the so-called Boussinesq approximation. The finite volume method and an iterative procedure are employed to discretise and solve the governing set of partial differential equations. The presented methodology is simpler than the traditional approach based on the primitive variables since the mass conservation principle is established at each iteration and there is no need for any additional treatment of the pressure ― velocity coupling. The program performance is evaluated by comparisons with numerical benchmark solutions of classical buoyancy driven cavity flows found in the literature. Simulation results for a one door all-refrigerator are presented and discussed. Comparisons with experimental data are also reported.