High-efficient cooling
The quality of household appliances like refrigerators and freezers depends significantly on their energy efficiency and acoustic performance, alongside design and cost considerations. Development should balance efficiency improvements with associated cost increases to achieve the best price/performance ratio. Recent advancements include vacuum insulation panels, which reduce thermal conductivity and energy consumption, improving efficiency or increasing internal volume. Efficient control systems, such as micro-expansion valves, can further reduce energy consumption by 4-9%, but challenges like noise emissions remain. Simulation of refrigeration processes provides insights into energy efficiency, operational states, and issues like evaporator icing. However accurately modeling transient behaviors remains difficult.
The research project aims to improve data quality for heat exchangers to match that of compressors by using a newly developed test bench. It ensures that all components operate at optimal energy efficiency while meeting acoustic and cooling requirements, utilizing micro-expansion valves.
A simulation-based design tool, developed over 10 years, will accurately predict refrigeration processes and energy efficiency. This tool will guide the design of advanced appliances (freezer, combination unit, refrigerator) with up to 20% reduced energy consumption compared to class A standards. The project also evaluates development tool accuracy, costs, and appliance sustainability.
