Numerical Simulation of Frost Formation on a Plate-Fin Evaporator

Abstract

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.

Fin and Temperature Effect of Frost in Ambient Air Vaporizer

“…The frost generation and heat transfer model were validated through a comparison with experimental results for validation (Afrasiabian et al, 2018). The validation experiment had the following conditions: a duct below the plate having a size of 99.5 mm × 80.2 mm × 3.4 mm, with low-temperature fluid (liquid nitrogen and low-temperature fluid)…”

Data analysis of frost density formed on cooled surfaces

“…Опытные данные о плотности инея ρ иэ на плоской поверхности или в канале между ними, удалось найти в источниках [6]- [19]. Для дальнейшей обработки выбрано 302 значения плотности ρ иэ , для которых указаны почти все условия инееобразования.…”