TEMPERATURE PREDICTION IN DOMESTIC REFRIGERATOR: DETERMINIST AND STOCHASTIC APPROACHES

The influence of two random variables: ambient temperature and thermostat setting, on air and load temperatures in non ventilated domestic refrigerator was studied. A simplified steady state heat transfer model was developed which takes into account heat exchanges by convection and radiation. This model considers circular airflow due to natural convection inside the cavity. The normal distribution of ambient and thermostat temperatures was developed to fit the survey data. Monte Carlo method was used for a sampling of ambient and thermostat temperatures from this distribution. These values were then used as input parameters of the deterministic model allowing the calculation of air and load temperatures. An analysis of the predicted temperatures was undertaken by comparing with survey data of air and load temperatures in domestic refrigerators in France, a good agreement was obtained. This model can be used as risk evaluation tool. 1