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Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer
Article . 2025 . Peer-reviewed
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Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Vapor Compression Refrigeration Systems Using Phase Change Materials

Authors: Djeffal, Rachid; Bekkouche, Sidi Mohammed El Amine; Triki, Zakaria; Abboud, Abir; Lekmine, Sabrina; Tahraoui, Hichem; Zhang, Jie; +1 Authors

Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Vapor Compression Refrigeration Systems Using Phase Change Materials

Abstract

Refrigeration systems are essential across various sectors, including food preservation, medical storage, and climate control. However, their high energy consumption and environmental impact necessitate innovative solutions to enhance efficiency while minimizing energy usage. This paper investigates the integration of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) into a vapor compression refrigeration system to enhance energy efficiency and temperature regulation for food preservation. A multifunctional prototype was tested under two configurations: (1) a standard thermally insulated room, and (2) the same room augmented with eutectic plates filled with either Glaceol (-10 circle C melting point) or distilled water (0 circle C melting point). Thermocouples were calibrated and deployed to record air and PCM temperatures during freeze-thaw cycles at thermostat setpoints of-30 circle C and-35 circle C. Additionally, a defrosting resistor and timer were added to mitigate frost buildup, a known cause of efficiency loss. The experimental results show that PCM-enhanced rooms achieved up to 10.98 circle C greater temperature stability during defrost cycles and reduced energy consumption by as much as 7.76% (from 0.4584 to 0.4231 kWh/h). Moreover, the effectiveness of PCMs depended strongly on thermostat settings and PCM type, with distilled water demonstrating broader solidification across plates under higher ambient loads. These findings highlight the potential of PCM integration to improve cold-chain performance, offering rapid cooling, moisture retention, and extended product conservation during power interruptions.

Keywords

Vapor compression refrigeration, [CHIM.GENI] Chemical Sciences/Chemical engineering, cold-chain preservation, thermal energy storage, phase change materials (PCMs), energy efficiency

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
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