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Refrigerator sinks, with respect to thermodynamics, illustrate a convergence of principles in the science of heat transfer and energy management.
This article will give a comprehensive overview of the Refrigerator and present different equations for considering refrigerators.
These systems utilise thermodynamic processes to simultaneously maintain refrigeration and manage water-related tasks within a single unit. Simultaneously, the sink aspect also concerns heat transfer, but in a different context regarding water heating and dissipation that occurs during various kitchen activities.

Check out our Refrigerator calculator to perform these calculations!

Definitions

Here are some important definitions to keep in mind for refrigerators!
  1. Sink: a reservoir that absorbs heat energy.
  2. Source: a reservoir that supplies heat energy.
In the refrigerator sink is the system, and the source is surrounding.
Figure 1: Diagram of Refrigeration


The following are the variables for the equations

Coefficient of performance


β=Heat ExtractedWtotal=Q2Wtotal=Q2Q1Q2=T2T1T2\beta=\frac{Heat\ Extracted}{W_{total}}=\frac{Q_2}{W_{total}}=\frac{Q_2}{Q_1-Q_2}=\frac{T_2}{T_1-T_2}

Q1=Q2+WQ_1=Q_2+W

Here's a calculator to actually run these equations!

The refrigerator functions to employ the principles of heat transfer, specifically the removal of heat from an interior compartment to maintain a low temperature to preserve food. Understanding the refrigerator sheds light on the role these systems play in achieving a balance between cooling and heating.


Additional Resources

If you liked this, check out our other articles and resources!
  1. Check out our library of templates here.
  1. Diesel Cycle
  2. Duel Combustion Cycle
  3. Brayton Cycles
  4. Power Cycles
  5. Heat Engines
  6. Introduction to Thermodynamics
  7. Importance of Mechanical Engineering Calculation Templates

CalcTree

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References

  1. Energy Education. 2023. Coefficient of performance. [ONLINE] Available at: https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Coefficient_of_performance#:~:text=The%20cooling%20coefficient%20of%20performance,pumps%2C%20refrigerators%20or%20air%20conditioners. [Accessed 31 October 2023].
  2. Energy Education. 2023. Refrigerator. [ONLINE] Available at: https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Refrigerator. [Accessed 31 October 2023].
  3. LinkedIn. 2023. Important Thermodynamic Concepts. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7095576421120548864?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop. [Accessed 24 October 2023].