Study on the refrigerator bottom cabinet cavity acoustic behavior

Abstract

Recently, sound comfort has become important in residential houses and noise emission is a distinctive feature for the selection of the home appliances in the same energy class. Refrigerators run continuously when it is compared with other home appliances. Therefore, reduction of refrigerator noise is necessary and noise-free operation becomes the preferred choice of customers in the domestic refrigerators. Together with the fan, the compressor is a source of noise that contributes to most of the refrigerator’s overall noise level due to the existence of a rotary element and this element motion creates vibration and noise. In this study, acoustic behavior of bottom cabinet cavity, housing the compressor in a refrigerator, is investigated. The natural frequencies of the bottom cabinet cavity are investigated. Firstly, natural frequencies are determined with analytical method. Secondly, natural frequencies are determined with numerical analysis using the finite element model of the bottom cabinet cavity. Comparisons with the results of the analytical study verify the validity of the numerical solution. Finally, experimental study is carried out for validation of both models. It is seen that the sound pressure of the bottom cabinet of the refrigerator is higher at some frequencies. These frequencies are in close match with the natural frequencies of the bottom cabinet cavity of the refrigerator which can be determined with the analytical and numerical analysis. For some peak frequencies, results into noise reduction by using sound absorber materials are also presented.