Abstract: At present, in the research and development and design of large-volume inter-cooled refrigerators, due to the technical limitations of thin-wall technology and traditional structures, there is a lack of methods to further increase the volume ratio of refrigerators. To solve this problem, based on a prototype machine, a new structure of horizontal evaporator and its supporting air duct was designed. The CFD simulation of the horizontal evaporator refrigerator is carried out, and the evolution law of the internal flow field characteristics of the horizontal evaporator air duct and the cabinet is analyzed. It is found that at the same speed of the fan, the air volume at the left and right sides of the refrigerator with a horizontal evaporator is more even than that of a refrigerator with a vertical evaporator, and the total air volume is equivalent. The performance test verifies that the tested flow field characteristics and transient temperature state are consistent with the simulation. The performance test verifies that the tested flow field characteristics and transient temperature state are consistent with the simulation. Under the premise of the same surface temperature of the evaporator, the temperature of the refrigerating compartment drops quickly and the cooling capacity is sufficient.

Key words: Large-volume inter-cooled refrigerators, Horizontal evaporator, CFD simulation, Flow field characteristics