Computational fluid dynamic study of thermal effects of open doors of refrigerated vehicles

Abstract In this work, we use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to compare the advantages and disadvantages of various door geometries by looking at how open doors of four different door geometries affect the stability of the temperature inside a refrigerated vehicle during unloading. The results show that, with opening D1 and D2, D3 and D4, D1, D4, the temperature increases from 4 °C to 22.34, 22.65, 20.39, and 21.32 °C after 4 min, respectively. The coefficients of temperature variation are .009, .011, .015, and .014, respectively. The volume infiltration flow rates are 2.202, 2.189, 0.983, and 0.961 m 3 /s, respectively. Comparing the coefficients shows that opening the D1D2 doors does not significantly perturb the temperature of the carriage, and opening the D1 door modifies the temperature less than opening the D4 door. The maximum root‐mean‐square error for volume mean temperature and wind speed is 1.21 °C and 0.27 m/s, respectively. Practical applications In urban cold‐chain delivery and distribution, the main solution to maintain temperature stability on opening the doors is to limit the number of doors and their area relative to the volume of the refrigerated vehicle. As a result, it is very important to optimize the structural design of refrigerated vehicles to reduce energy consumption, enhance temperature stability inside the refrigerated compartment, and ensure the quality and safety of the perishable food stored within. In this study, the evaluation index is used with CFD technology to study how open doors of various sizes and at different locations affect the temperature inside the refrigerated vehicle. This research provides not only a more detailed understanding of flow distribution and temperature variations inside the carriage while opening the door of a refrigerated compartment but also a reliable theoretical basis for optimizing the design of refrigerated vehicles.