Numerical modeling of simultaneous heat and moisture transfer under complex geometry for refrigeration purposes

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to gain a better insight into heat and moisture transfer in refrigerator and to do fundamental study for water evaporation and condensation in refrigeration application. The governing transport equations (continuity, momentum, energy and concentration equations) in 3D Cartesian coordinates are firstly introduced. As the mixed convection is simulated in the paper, buoyancy forces caused by both temperature and concentration gradient are considered and are also included in momentum equation. Numerical results are carried out by using Termofluids code. The pressure-velocity linkage is solved by means of an explicit finite volume fractional step procedure. In order to validate the code, a humid air flowing in a horizontal 3D rectangular duct case is carried out and compared with the published numerical and experimental results. The contour of temperature and vapor density of air at a cross section is provided and analyzed. Finally, the heat and mass transfer process during the moist air flow through complicated geometry is simulated and temperature and humidity distributions are obtained.