Computational analysis of airflow deflector impact on temperature heterogeneity in cold storage

Abstract

Cold storages play a dominant role in the preservation of harvested produce by generating an environment conducive to their storage. Inadequate air flow inside a cold storage can result in a heterogeneous temperature within the same space leading to food loss. This study investigates the impact of retrofitting an airflow deflector on the cooling unit and examines its effects on airflow and temperature distribution within the cold storage using a numerical model. For validation of the model, published experimental results from an apple cold storage was used. The validated model is then extended to study the effect of airflow deflectors at various angles, namely 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, and 50°. To quantify the effect of deflector angle on the cooling performance inside the cold storage, temperature and velocity distribution, performance index, thermal utilization effectiveness and temperature heterogeneity values were computed and compared. The results of multiple simulations reveal that a deflector angle of 30° minimizes temperature variations within the cold storage for standard apple crate arrangements. This finding suggests that strategically positioned deflectors can significantly improve the cooling efficiency and maintain product quality within a cold storage facility.