Study of heat transfer characteristics analysis and insulation property improvement of top-opening freezer gaskets

Gasket is an important insulation component that affects the refrigeration performance of top-opening freezers. However, how to improve its insulation properties are not systematically given yet in existing studies. In this paper, four methods of improving thermal insulation property for top-opening freezer gaskets via material modification are explored. The heat transfer form, path and proportion of the top-opening freezer gasket are comprehensively analyzed by using numerical simulation method. In the heat inflow path, the proportion of rubber strip-door body is as high as 78.10 %. In the heat outflow path, the proportion of rubber strip-cold air and rubber strip-door body is as high as 54.78 % and 33.50 %. For every 5 % decrease in thermal conductivity of the rubber strip material, the insulation property improves by about 1 %. Thus, the insulation property can be improved by 5.26 %, 11.36 % and 12.27 % via material formula modification, integral foaming and integral microsphere technology. Filling polyurethane foam in the air chamber of conventional structural gasket has no effect on the improvement of insulation property. The insulation property of filling polyurethane foam in the auxiliary air chamber of auxiliary- air chamber structure gasket can be improved by 4.8 %. Compared with the conventional structure gasket, the insulation property of the auxiliary- air chamber structure filled with polyurethane foam is increased by 22.29 %. It can save power consumption of the top-opening freezer by 2.58 %. The research results can provide technical guidance for improving the insulation performance of gaskets in the top-opening freezer industry.