The study and performance of a modified ENIEM conventional refrigerator to serve as a photovoltaic powered one under Algerian climate conditions

This paper describes the design and development stages followed to convert a conventional vapour compression refrigerator to a solar powered one. A conventional refrigerator ENIEM 160 l was chosen and some changes were introduced on it to reduce the cooling load and consequently the power it required. Three prototypes were designed and tested; AC (alternative current) electrical power drives the first one using a converter, the Danfoss compressor that works with DC (direct current) was set up in the second, and BDF35 with Eutectic evaporator AC15 were used in the third refrigerator. The hermetic compressor was switched on and off to maintain an average inside air temperature between a maximum and minimum air temperature established by the thermostat. Many tests were carried out over 1 yr to study the performance of each of the refrigerator's components and especially the compressor, the eutectic evaporator, as well as the system as a whole. These prototypes were installed and tested in Algeria, in two different climate types: mild, along the Mediterranean coast, and arid, in the Sahara. The data gathered as well as the analysis processes enabled our team to evaluate pertinent system components and optimize the equipment to specific environments and load requirements. It can be concluded that the performance of the eutectic refrigerator is very stable and it can serve for perishable food storage, vaccine, and drug depositing at low temperatures in remote areas using half energy and a low number of battery. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4751470]