Predictive models on the frost formation for plain surface - a review and comparative study

Abstract

In this study, a review of the mathematical models and the CFD models to predict the frost formation on the flat plate are conducted and compared. The mathematical model is able to predict the critical frost properties like density, thickness, and thermal conductivity with less computational loading, but it cannot offer comprehensive information in the frost layer for each time step. The assumption of the absorption rate significantly influences the mass transfers and casts an impact on the calculated results accordingly. The supersaturation condition at the frost surface can mimic the actual situation, but it usually cannot be combined with the existing heat transfer correlations. The source term related to Gibbs free energy is depicted by the supersaturation degree, this perspective can be potentially expressed by the supersaturation degree proposed by the classical nucleation theory. Moreover, some CFD simulation models show good agreement with the experimental data, but the mass transfer calculation should be modified to yield better predictions as compared to the mathematical models and the coupling models. Besides, the ratio of the total mass flux between the mathematical model and the coupling model is in line with the ratio of the total heat transfer between the frosting condition and the non-frosting condition.