Quantitative analysis of frosting characteristics at ultra-low temperatures under forced convection conditions

Abstract

The quantitative analysis of frosting characteristics was conducted at ultra-low temperatures under forced convection conditions, which may deepen the understanding of frosting mechanism on air source heat pump (ASHP). The frosting experiments were performed under various experimental conditions. The correlations for the frost thickness and density were proposed as functions of Reynolds and Fourier number, absolute humidity, and non-dimensional temperature. The frost layer growth behavior was predicted within 6% of the maximum error when the predicted data of the correlation and the testing data were compared. A parametric study was performed, and the effect of the frosting parameters on the frost layer growth was identified. Consequently, the frosting behavior on the devices that operate at ultra-low temperatures and forced convection conditions can be identified using the correlations proposed in this study.