Airflow patterns in an enclosure loaded with slotted pallets

A reduced scale model and CFD predictions are used to investigate experimentally and numerically the airflow patterns within a refrigerated truck loaded with slotted but empty pallets. Air velocity measurements are carried out on a reduced scale model with a Laser Doppler Anemometer above and inside the pallets. The numerical predictions obtained with Computational Fluid Dynamics package using the RSM turbulence model showed a satisfactory agreement with experimental data in high velocity zones. An approach was developed to evaluate the local ventilation efficiency and the fresh air within the pallets. The flow rate through the last pallet is about 35 times smaller than for the five first pallets. In terms of fresh air the difference is not so high; the equivalent fresh airflow rate through the last pallet is about six times smaller than for the first pallets.