A new model for predicting performance of fin-and-tube heat exchanger under frost condition

Chen, Jing; Li, W.Z.; Liu, Y.; Zhao, Yue

doi:10.1016/j.ijheatfluidflow.2010.11.004

Cited by 54 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…More recently, the third group solves governing equations for air and ice phases in the whole frosting domain and describes the mass transfer rate from air to ice phase by different schemes. For instance, Cui et al [16,17] used the nucleation theory to calculate the mass transfer term; Kim et al [18] assumed the mass transfer rate was driven by water vapor concentration gradients; Wu et al [19,20] attributed it to the difference between water vapor pressure and saturation pressure. Generally, these models can address the deficiencies in the first two groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, previous models calculate the variable porosity depending on the temperature field merely. But the variable porosity of frost layer is determined by the amount of mass transferred from humid air to ice phase, and this mass transfer rate is controlled by both temperature and humidity fields [16]. Inclusion of the humidity field is therefore necessary in the study of the frosting process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Generalized lattice Boltzmann model for frosting

Lei

Luo

Wu³

2019

Phys. Rev. E

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Frosting is a multiscale and multiphysics problem, which presents a significant challenge for numerical methods. In this study, a generalized lattice Boltzmann (LB) model is developed to simulate the frosting of humid air at representative elementary volume scale. In this model, three LB equations are introduced to describe the evolution of distribution functions for velocity, temperature, and humidity (i.e., mass fraction of water vapor in the humid air) fields, respectively. The frost layer is regarded as a porous medium, while the humid air is treated as a plain one. This unified LB model can be applied to describe the phase change and transport processes in these two subdomains seamlessly. Through the Chapman-Enskog analysis, the macroscopic equations for the frosting process can be recovered from the present LB model. Benchmark problems in conduction solidification, convection melting and frosting are simulated, and the numerical results match well with analytical or experimental solutions. Finally, this model is applied to simulate frost formation between two parallel plates, and the influences of air velocity, humidity, temperature, and cold wall temperature are evaluated.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generalized lattice Boltzmann model for frosting

Lei

Luo

Wu³

2019

Phys. Rev. E

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“…Armengol et al [7] developed a two-dimensional model for frost formation with an interface condition to couple two domains. Cui et al [8,9] applied the nucleation theorem to model the mass transfer for frost formation process by using a two-fluid approach for both phases. They used an Eulerian-Eulerian model for a multiphase and multi-component system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Simulation of Frost Formation on a Plate-Fin Evaporator

Afrasiabian¹,

Iliev²,

Lazzari³

et al. 2018

World Congress on Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer

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In the present paper, the Eulerian-granular model is adopted, to predict the frost growth on one channel of a plate-fin evaporator. A proper mass transfer model and modified frosting criteria are used to simulate the frost formation process. First, the model is validated with experimental data obtained under various operating conditions. The numerical predictions for the frost thickness and density are in good agreement with available experimental data. Furthermore, a parametric analysis is carried out to study the impact of the geometrical parameters of a three-dimensional plate-fin evaporator. A qualitative comparison shows a good agreement between the numerical data and experimental observations reported in the literature. One interesting outcome emerging from this study is that the distance between refrigerant tubes can play an important role in the frosting time.

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“…Yan et al [7], Cui et al [8], Padhmanabhan et al [9] claimed that the amount of frost formation increases as air flow rate decreases. This is because the surface of the heat exchanger becomes colder for a lower flow rate due to a lower heat transfer rate.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…In addition, an increase in frosting rate leads to a faster decrease of heat transfer rate and the overall heat transfer coefficient. In another study performed by Cui et al [8], the performance of fin-and-tube heat exchanger under frost condition was investigated numerically and validated via the analytical method. They found that the amount of frost accumulation increases as the velocity of moist air decreases because the temperature difference between moist air and fins is larger.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%