Improvement of Properties of an Insulated Wall for Refrigerated Trailer-Numerical and Experimental Study

In the paper, we report our research on the improvement of thermal efficiency of refrigerated trailers by modification of their wall structure by placing a layer of phase change material inside them. The research was carried out in the field of transport, meeting the requirements of all classes prov...

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Main Authors: Konrad Zdun, Tadeusz Uhl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/51
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author Konrad Zdun
Tadeusz Uhl
author_facet Konrad Zdun
Tadeusz Uhl
author_sort Konrad Zdun
collection DOAJ
description In the paper, we report our research on the improvement of thermal efficiency of refrigerated trailers by modification of their wall structure by placing a layer of phase change material inside them. The research was carried out in the field of transport, meeting the requirements of all classes provided for in the ATP agreement for refrigerated trailers. As part of the research, we formulated a numerical model of the proposed design of the refrigerator walls, which was subsequently validated by comparing the modeling results with the results of experimental tests carried out on a test bench designed specifically for this purpose. Based on the validated simulation conditions, we formulated the numerical model of a full-scale refrigerated semi-trailer, which was numerically tested under the conditions specified in the ATP Agreement. The results proved that adding a 6 mm layer of the SP-24 phase change material in each of the walls of the cold store allows the temperature inside the trailer to be kept below −20 °C for a period of 24 h without the need to supply cold from the outside during operation. The passive refrigerated semi-trailer system implemented in this manner with 6 mm PCM layer allows for a reduction in primary energy consumption by up to 86% in a period of 22 h. The mentioned percentage did not take into account the efficiency of the cooling system of the phase change material.
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spelling doaj.art-2e5cd82b51f548ccb5aeca9f21b083e22023-11-23T11:24:49ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-12-011515110.3390/en15010051Improvement of Properties of an Insulated Wall for Refrigerated Trailer-Numerical and Experimental StudyKonrad Zdun0Tadeusz Uhl1Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, University of Science and Technology AGH, 30-059 Krakow, PolandFaculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, University of Science and Technology AGH, 30-059 Krakow, PolandIn the paper, we report our research on the improvement of thermal efficiency of refrigerated trailers by modification of their wall structure by placing a layer of phase change material inside them. The research was carried out in the field of transport, meeting the requirements of all classes provided for in the ATP agreement for refrigerated trailers. As part of the research, we formulated a numerical model of the proposed design of the refrigerator walls, which was subsequently validated by comparing the modeling results with the results of experimental tests carried out on a test bench designed specifically for this purpose. Based on the validated simulation conditions, we formulated the numerical model of a full-scale refrigerated semi-trailer, which was numerically tested under the conditions specified in the ATP Agreement. The results proved that adding a 6 mm layer of the SP-24 phase change material in each of the walls of the cold store allows the temperature inside the trailer to be kept below −20 °C for a period of 24 h without the need to supply cold from the outside during operation. The passive refrigerated semi-trailer system implemented in this manner with 6 mm PCM layer allows for a reduction in primary energy consumption by up to 86% in a period of 22 h. The mentioned percentage did not take into account the efficiency of the cooling system of the phase change material.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/51phase change materials (PCMs)refrigerated trailercold storagelatent heat storage
spellingShingle Konrad Zdun
Tadeusz Uhl
Improvement of Properties of an Insulated Wall for Refrigerated Trailer-Numerical and Experimental Study
Energies
phase change materials (PCMs)
refrigerated trailer
cold storage
latent heat storage
title Improvement of Properties of an Insulated Wall for Refrigerated Trailer-Numerical and Experimental Study
title_full Improvement of Properties of an Insulated Wall for Refrigerated Trailer-Numerical and Experimental Study
title_fullStr Improvement of Properties of an Insulated Wall for Refrigerated Trailer-Numerical and Experimental Study
title_full_unstemmed Improvement of Properties of an Insulated Wall for Refrigerated Trailer-Numerical and Experimental Study
title_short Improvement of Properties of an Insulated Wall for Refrigerated Trailer-Numerical and Experimental Study
title_sort improvement of properties of an insulated wall for refrigerated trailer numerical and experimental study
topic phase change materials (PCMs)
refrigerated trailer
cold storage
latent heat storage
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/1/51
work_keys_str_mv AT konradzdun improvementofpropertiesofaninsulatedwallforrefrigeratedtrailernumericalandexperimentalstudy
AT tadeuszuhl improvementofpropertiesofaninsulatedwallforrefrigeratedtrailernumericalandexperimentalstudy