Experimental verification of analytical and CFD predictions of infiltration through cold store entrances

Abstract

Measurements of infiltration through different size entrances of a cold store at two different cold store temperatures were taken and compared against established analytical models and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. The analytical and CFD models generally tended to over predict the infiltration. The analytical model developed by Gosney et al. [Proc. Inst. Refrig. 72 (1975) 31] provided the closest comparison with the various experiments. The CFD models were more accurate than the fundamental analytical models but less accurate than those based on a semi-empirical approach. For the experimental configurations examined, CFD offered no real advantage over these empirical analytical models. If the conditions were such that the infiltration rate changed with time or if door protection devices (e.g. air curtains) were used, CFD would become much more advantageous in predicting infiltration.