Experimental study of the operative conditions of domestic refrigerators in the student community of the University of Beira interior.

The temperature control of domestic refrigerators is crucial to ensure food safety and quality and as a means to reduce food waste. Several studies related to the temperature control of these appliances have been published over the past 15 years. In Portugal, although there are some studies that refer the food storage temperature in refrigerators, there are no studies that on to this influence of this parameter on the food safety. The current refrigerators include compressors with lower power and the appliances are better insulated ensuring a better thermal performance with less energy consumption. However, these outcomes depend on the installation conditions and equipment use. This experimental study is related to the analysis of the operative conditions of the refrigerators of the student community of the University of Beira Interior (Covilha, Portugal). A test sample of 51 equipments was instrumented with temperature dataloggers, distributed by students who (1) live alone; (2) with their parents; or in conjunction (3) with other students. The test sample appliances have, on average, an electrical power of 126 W and an inner volume of 205 liters. It was found that the average temperature of products storage is 5.5 oC, just above the food safety threshold. It was determined that the storage air temperature in the appliance increases with the number of people who uses it.