Experimental investigation of phase change material integrated vapor compression refrigeration system

Domestic refrigerators are significant energy consumers, necessitating innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and reliability. Recent advancements in thermal management have highlighted the potential benefits of integrating phase change materials in vapor compression refrigeration systems. However, the exploration of optimal phase change materials (NaCl, paraffin wax, and CaCl₂·6H₂O) thickness for combined integration at the condenser and evaporator remains underexplored. This study experimentally investigates the effect of optimal phase change material thickness for combined placement in both components. The experimental results show that integrating an optimum thickness of 2 mm Paraffine wax at the condenser increased the coefficient of performance by 34 % while reducing the on–off ratio by 1.4 times. At the evaporator, sodium chloride increased the coefficient of performance by 9 %. The combined placement of phase change materials at both the condenser and evaporator resulted in a 27 % increase in coefficient of performance. These findings underscore the importance of optimum phase change material thickness for combined integration in both the condenser and evaporator to achieve better system efficiency and performance. This research contributes valuable insights for the design of energy efficient refrigeration systems that can reduce energy consumption, enhance food preservation, and maintain stable temperatures during power interruptions.