Evaluation of energy saving schemes in an apple cool store using computational fluid dynamics.

Energy consumption concerns raised questions about the current temperature and air flow regimes in cool storage facilities. Energy saving schemes were explored in terms of temperature fluctuations and energy use. In this paper, the implementation of fluctuating cooling air temperature at constant air exchange rate, 8h at 0.6°C and 16h at 1.2°C, according to a day-night regime, was examined experimentally and by use of a porous medium CFD model of an apple fruit cool store. With the model, different evaporator coil fan cycling schemes, including 12 hours on - 12 hours off; 10 hours on - 14 hours off; and 8 hours on - 16 hours off were then investigated. The study showed the possibility of energy savings through a day-night cycling of temperature set point with on-off cycling of the air circulation fan without excessive temperature fluctuations.