Abstract
Numerical and experimental studies were made on free convection heat transfer around a domestic electric refrigerator-freezer surrounded by walls. Numerical analysis, flow observations, velocity and temperature measurements were made. Air flows in under the refrigerator and is heated up by a compressor behind the refrigerator. Air goes up in the back space and flows out at the top of the refrigerator. Air circulates around a refrigerator by free convection. The flow rate of the circulation decreases proportionally with the decrease of a space behind a refrigerator. Flow patterns obtained by numerical analysis were found to be in good agreement with the results of visual observation of the air. Velocity distributions obtained by numerical analysis were also found in good agreement with the measured.data. Numerical results were verified to be useful to predict flow pattern around a refrigerator-freezer.
