Thermal Management of Refrigerated Display Cabinets
Summary
Thermal management of refrigerated display cabinets centres on maintaining uniform low temperatures for perishable goods while minimising energy consumption and environmental impact. Modern cabinets employ a combination of engineered airflow patterns, optimised heat exchangers and adaptive control strategies to reduce heat ingress and ensure product safety. Open-front and closed-door configurations each present unique challenges: open displays rely on air curtains to form an invisible barrier against warm ambient air, whereas glass-door units require rapid recovery of cabinet temperature after door opening. Key performance metrics include the coefficient of performance (COP), which quantifies system efficiency, and the thermal entrainment factor (TEF), which measures the degree of ambient air drawn into the cooled space. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models guide geometric design of shelves and baffles, while novel materials such as low-emissivity glass and advanced polymer insulation further improve energy performance. Advances in condensate-water recycling, intelligent compressor control and multi-layer air curtains have demonstrated global potential for energy savings, reduced greenhouse-gas emissions and enhanced food preservation in retail and food-service environments.
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Thermal Management of Refrigerated Display Cabinets publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in thermal management of refrigerated display cabinets across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Refrigerated display cabinet (RDC): Insulated unit designed to store and showcase perishable goods under controlled low temperatures while permitting customer access.
Coefficient of performance (COP): Ratio of refrigeration effect produced to the energy input required, serving as a primary indicator of system efficiency.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD): Numerical simulation technique used to analyse and optimise airflow and heat transfer within cabinets.
Air curtain: Stream of high-velocity air at the cabinet opening that forms a barrier preventing warm ambient air from entering the cooled interior.
Thermal entrainment factor (TEF): Measure of the amount of ambient air drawn into the refrigerated space relative to circulated cold air, directly affecting temperature uniformity and energy use.
References
- Impact of condensate water recycling on the performance of open refrigerated display cabinet. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering (2024).
- 2D CFD Simulation of Dynamic Heat Transfer in an Open-Type Refrigerated Display Cabinet. Applied Sciences (2022).
- Experimental and Numerical Study of the Performance of an Open-Type Multi-Deck Refrigerated Cabinet with Single and Dual Air Curtain. Applied Sciences (2023).
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