Numerical Simulation of the 3d Transient Temperature Evolution Inside a Domestic Single Zone Wine Storage Cabinet with Forced Air Circulation

This work is carried out in order to investigate the air flow and temperature stratification in the compartment of a single zone wine storage cabinet with forced ventilation for domestic use. The appliance used in this work has a total gross capacity of approximately 135 liters. A single zone wine cooler should achieve evenly distributed temperature for all bottles inside the appliance. To analyze the temperature distribution, a numerical simulation of the air flow and the temperature field can be very helpful.
The numerical simulations are carried out applying commercial CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamic) software using the finite volume method. Therefore the following assumptions are made: the evaporator is modelled by means of a time-varying but locally constant temperature obtained from measurements, the ambient temperature is constant. Concerning the air flow, turbulent conditions are considered. The energy equation is solved transiently and the flow field is calculated assuming steady-state conditions at specific points in time in order to reduce computing time.
Furthermore, the air flow in the air channel behind the rear and the top wall of the compartment, where the fan and the freely suspended evaporator are located, is also simulated. The compartment is investigated for different configurations: firstly, an empty wine cooler only with wooden grid shelves, secondly, an appliance loaded with test packages and last, an appliance filled with bottles. Temperature measurements with several thermocouples inside the compartment and the air channel are carried out for each arrangement to verify the results of the numerical simulations.