Refrigerant mass charge distribution in a domestic refrigerator, Part I: Transient conditions

Experimental results are presented of the refrigerant mass charge distribution in a steadily cycling domestic refrigerator. In detail it is shown how the charge is displaced at compressor start-up and shut-down. At start-up it was found that the charge was temporarily displaced towards the condenser before returning to a steady state distribution in the latter part of the on-period. As a result, initially the evaporator was starved with a lowered evaporation temperature and a peak 10 °C superheat. The superheat disappeared within 3 min as the evaporator was gradually refilled with refrigerant. At shut-down the pressure equalised within 3 min as refrigerant was pushed into the evaporator from the condenser. The losses due to charge displacements were estimated to 11% (capacity) and 9% (efficiency). Possible ways to reduce the losses are discussed.