Development of a stability model for a vertical single band recirculated air curtain sealing a refrigerated cavity

Recirculating cold air curtains are used to seal the open front of all multi-deck refrigerated display cabinets commonly used in food retail. Infiltration through the air curtain has been estimated to be the source of between 78 and 81% of the total heat gain to the cabinet. More efficient air curtains would not only save energy but would enable more precise temperature control of the produce within the display cabinet, better preserving food quality. Curtain thickness, length, discharge temperature and velocity all influence the efficiency of the air curtain and design optimisation has until recently been largely empirical or has used complex CFD models. m of this study was to generate a design guide which would enable cabinet designers with limited fluid flow expertise to rapidly identify the most efficient air curtain design to seal any given cavity from fundamental measurements without any need for intensive computation.