Frost Formation Research Articles

Frosting characteristics of microchannel heat exchangers: Parametric studies and correlation development

Recently, microchannel heat exchangers (MCHX) have been widely used in heat pump systems due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and high efficiency of heat transfer. However, when the MCHX operates in frosting conditions, its performance is adversely affected. To study the frost formation and distribution characteristics of MCHX, a comprehensive parametric study was performed for the MCHX with a larger fin pitch. The effects of fin geometries and environmental parameters on the frosting characteristics of MCHX were studied. Fin height (Fh) can effectively inhibit frost formation, which is due to the increase of surface temperature with the increase of Fh. When Fh increased from 6.0 mm to 11.8 mm, the frost time increased by 30.5 %. However, the increase in Fh also brings the penalty of reduced heat transfer rate. The effect of fin depth (Fd) on frost formation performance is small because the frost is mainly deposited in the front part, resulting in the rear fin cannot work efficiently. Fin pitch (Fp) is the most significant structural parameter affecting frosting performance. When Fp increases from 1.6 mm to 4 mm, the frosting time increases by 4 times and frost mass increased by 2.2 times. This is because with the increase of Fp, the frost blocking in the front part can be effectively delayed, and the distribution uniformity of the frost layer is improved. Lower surface temperature and higher humidity ratio significantly promote frost formation and reduce the uniformity of frost distribution. When the inlet temperature is reduced from −5 °C to −8 °C, the frosting time is shortened by 2.15 times, and the frost mass is reduced by 55.7 %. When the relative humidity increases from 76 % to 92 %, the frosting time is shortened by 2.15 times, and the frost mass is reduced by 42.5 %. The air velocity has a minor impact on the growth rate of frost in the front part. However, as the air velocity increases, the uniformity of frost distribution is significantly improved. When the air velocity increased from 1.1 m s−1 to 2.2 m s−1, the mass of accumulated frost increased by 29.5 %. Furthermore, frost thickness and air-side heat transfer coefficient correlations were developed by testing 12 samples. The developed heat transfer coefficient correlation can accurately capture the changing trend of the j-factor. This study provides a fundamental understanding of the frosting characteristics of MCHX and can effectively guide the louvered fin optimization.

Experimental investigation on frosting performance of a microchannel heat exchanger in heat pump system for electric vehicles

Frosting of outdoor heat exchangers deteriorates the heat transfer performance of the electric vehicle (EV) heat pump system. The frosting performance of the outdoor heat exchanger in an EV heat pump air-conditioning system was investigated experimentally, considering different flow configurations, tube arrangements, and frontal air volume. The purpose of the study was to establish the optimal tube arrangements and flow configurations for minimizing frost formation and maximizing system performance. The results indicate that a three-flow configuration outperforms a two-flow setup under frosting conditions. Specifically, a flow sequence of 14-21-35 increases the heat capacity by 15.05 %–20.64 % compared to that of the reverse flow of 35-21-14. Additionally, the coefficient of performance (COP) increases by 1.19 %–3.55 %. Higher airflow reduces frost formation. A significant correlation exists between the refrigerant distribution within the heat exchanger and the corresponding frost distribution on the surface of the microchannel heat exchanger. The frost formation rate was slower for the flat tube vertical arrangement. Furthermore, horizontal tube arrangements were more conductive than vertical ones, providing a more uniform temperature distribution and higher heat transfer rates (an increase of 2.7% in heat transfer and 3.4% in heat capacity). The COP of the vertical arrangement system was consistently higher than that of the horizontal arrangement by 1.4 %–3 %.

Cryopump concept development for the cryogenic mirror region of the Einstein Telescope – the future gravitational wave observatory

The Einstein Telescope (ET), the planned gravitational-wave observatory for Europe, will increase the sensitivity and expand the observation band to lower frequencies. The main optics of the ET-Low Frequency (LF) interferometer will be cooled to cryogenic temperatures below 20 K and the whole system, consisting of the beam pipes, the suspension towers and the cryostat containing the mirror, requires high to ultra-high vacuum conditions.To fulfill the vacuum related requirements the use of tailor-made in-situ cryopumps is envisaged. Simulations at KIT, performed with the in-house Test Particle Monte Carlo code ProVac3D and a simplified model of the system, considered the three main gas sources from the neighbouring systems and the sinks by pumping stations distributed along the pipe arms, the cryogenic pump sections close to the mirror and the cryogenic mirror environment. These simulations showed different needs for the pumping of hydrogen (to lower the residual pressures) or heavier species like water (to lower the frost formation on the cryogenic mirror surface) – depending on the position related to the mirror. With these findings, the development of a pump arrangement concept was worked out.In parallel, the outgassing rates of the inner walls of the beam pipe tubes, influencing strongly the vacuum pumping demands, have been varied to investigate the potential use of mild steel as a beam pipe material of reduced costs.This paper describes the developed pump arrangement concept, utilizing cryogenic pumps integrated into the beam pipe tubes of 1 m diameter, with their individual objectives regarding pumped species and needed temperatures.Furthermore, the key parameter of frost formation on the cryogenic mirror, important for long operational phases without pause and maintenance, being also a design driving demand, is derived from the predicted residual pressure of sticky gases like water.

Machine learning-based virtual sensors for reduced energy consumption in frost-free refrigerators

AbstractThis study explores Machine Learning (ML) integration for household refrigerator efficiency. The ML approach allows to optimize defrost cycles, offering energy savings without complexity or cost escalation. The paper initially presents a State-of-the-Art of ML potential to improve functionality and efficiency of refrigerators. Since frost is the cause of significant energy losses, a ML-based Virtual Sensor was developed to predict frost formation on the evaporator also in low -level refrigerators. The results show the environmental significance of ML in enhancing appliance efficiency.

A numerical study of heterogeneous nucleation of ice crystals and frost layer growth on horizontal cold surfaces

In engineering applications, the formation and growth of frost layers can significantly affect the normal operation of equipment, leading to undesirable influences. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the frost formation mechanisms as a basis for developing effective anti-frosting and defrosting methodologies. This study proposes a model for the growth of horizontal cold surface frost layers using the classical nucleation theory and the Eulerian multiphase flow model. Compared to numerous models that investigate the frost formation issues using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, our proposed model takes into account the crystal growth period (the heterogeneous nucleation process of ice). The predicted results of the proposed model were found to be in good agreement with the data collected from five related experimental studies. In this regard, the maximum frost layer thickness error was 23.9 % with a mean error of 5.1 %, and the maximum density error was 22.8 % with a mean error of 8.1 %. Compared to existing models in the literature, the proposed model can reduce the maximum thickness and density uncertainties by 17.4 % and 10.2 %, respectively. Additionally, the effects of the surface contact angle and environmental parameters on the nucleation process were analyzed using the established model. It was found that a larger contact angle, higher cold surface temperature, and lower air temperature, humidity, and velocity were unfavorable conditions for supporting the formation and growth of ice crystals. Moreover, the nucleation completion time was shortened with the increase in the moist air supersaturation degree, varying as an exponential function. The findings of this study provide an important theoretical basis for the development of optimizing strategies for anti-frosting and defrosting.

Impact of optimized gas-liquid separator on temperature and frost distribution in electric vehicle heat pump AC

In the context of low temperatures, the outdoor evaporator surface in an electric vehicle's heat pump air conditioning system tends to accumulate frost unevenly. This uneven frosting occurs due to the varying heat exchange capacity of the refrigerant's two phases within the evaporator. Any reduction in the heat exchanger's capacity would lead to a negative impact on system performance. To address these challenges, this study introduces a gas–liquid separator placed in front of the outdoor evaporator. The aim was to enhance both the outdoor evaporator's performance and the overall system efficiency while investigating frost formation and heat distribution in the outdoor evaporator within a heat pump air conditioning system. The research outcomes demonstrate that the gas–liquid separator can effectively enhance evaporating pressure by regulating the opening degree of the gas-phase bypass valve. Optimal performance is achieved with the gas-phase branch bypass valve set between 20% and 30%, ensuring a stable operational condition and higher evaporating pressure. Moreover, the incorporation of a gas–liquid separator could lead to significant improvements in system performance, with increases of 6.9% in heat capacity and 7.4% in COP observed. Additionally, this enhancement extends to the outlet air temperature, showing improvements ranging from 3.6% to 11.2%.

Tracking the south polar seasonal cap retreat of Mars using computer vision

We use daily polar stereographic mosaics obtained from the Mars Color Imager (MARCI) to autonomously track the recession of the South Polar Seasonal Cap (SPSC) during Mars Years (MYs) 28 to 31, for the period Ls = 178° to Ls = 345°. Utilizing an autonomous approach, we can delineate the SPSC by fitting an ellipse, offering the advantage of faster processing. This allows us to monitor the recession with enhanced time sampling capabilities. The SPSC recession is divided into two segments separated by a discontinuity at Ls = ∼260°, corresponding to the detachment of the Mountains of Mitchel seasonal cap from the main cap. Before the discontinuity, the SPSC exhibits variability where the recession rate can vary by up to 50%, with the fastest recession occurring at Ls = ∼235° and the slowest at Ls = ∼191°. After the discontinuity, the SPSC experiences reduced variability and undergoes a monotonic deceleration until Ls = ∼319°, gradually approaching the stable latitude of ∼86° S, consistent with the South Polar Residual Cap. MY 28 demonstrates distinct behavior in response to the Global Dust Storm (GDS), as the SPSC was smaller and sublimated faster before the onset of the storm compared to the 4-year average. Plain language summaryThe seasonal frost layer on Mars, consisting of frozen carbon dioxide, covers vast expanses during the winters. This frost forms as carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere turns into solid ice on the surface, impacting the overall atmospheric pressure. We studied daily images captured by the Mars Color Imager (MARCI) to automatically monitor the retreat of the South Polar Seasonal Cap (SPSC) as it returns to the atmosphere during the spring over a span of four years. To achieve this, we employed a computer programming language called Python and a publicly available software library designed for visual analysis. By fitting an ellipse that most closely resembles the contour of the cap, we were able to trace and measure the change in the SPSC over time and determine how quickly SPSC shrinks. We discovered that our strategy produces results that are similar to those of previously published approaches, but in a lot less time and with increasing accuracy. We noticed new patterns in the seasonal retreat of the seasonal cap, including brief periods of faster shrinking, likely influenced by wind patterns. Additionally, we investigated a prominent icy area known as the Mountains of Mitchel seasonal cap and found that its behavior differed before and after a significant global dust storm in Mars Year 28.

Early frost detection in wheat using machine learning from vertical temperature distributions

Frost damage significantly reduces global wheat production. Temperature development in wheat crops is a complex and dynamic process. During frost events, a vertical temperature gradient develops from soil to canopy due to the heat loss from the soil and canopy boundary. Understanding these temperature gradients is essential for improving frost management strategies in wheat crops. We hypothesise that the relationship between the temperatures of the canopy, plant and ground can be an early indicator of frost. We collected infrared thermal (IRT) images from field-grown wheat crops and extracted the temperatures from the canopy, plant and ground layers. We analysed these temperatures and applied four machine learning (ML) models to detect coldness scales leading to frost nights with different degrees of severity. We implemented a gated recurrent unit, convolutional neural network, random forest and support vector machines to evaluate the classification. Our study shows that in these three layers, temperatures have a relationship that can be used to determine frost early. The patterns of these three temperatures on a frost night differ from a cold no-frost winter night. On a no-frost night we observed that the canopy is the coldest, plant is warm, and the soil is warmest, and these three temperatures did not converge. On the other hand, on a frost night, before the frost event, the canopy and plant temperatures converged as the cold air penetrated through the canopy. These patterns in temperature distribution were translated into an ML problem to detect frost early. We classified coldness scales based on the temperatures conducive to frost formation of a certain severity degree. Our results show that the ML models can determine the coldness scales automatically with 93%–98% accuracy across the four models. The study presents a strong foundation for the development of early frost detection systems.

Model-based prediction of frost formation inside frozen food packages under temperature fluctuations

Abstract Frozen storage of food products is widely accepted not only in the industry but also by households. Frost formation during long-term storage is recognized as a phenomenon that causes changes in product characteristics and quality losses. However, quantitative prediction and control of frost formation remains a challenge. In this study, a mathematical model was developed to predict frost formation inside frozen food products (i.e., frozen minced meat packed in a polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) film) under fluctuating temperature conditions in a domestic refrigerator. The proposed model is based on heat transfer and energy balance equations, and the amount of frost formation is estimated from the heat generated by condensation. The heat transfer coefficients were experimentally obtained and applied to the developed model. The interactions between the amplitude and frequency of temperature fluctuations and the corresponding amount of frost formation were visualized using contour plots. Both the amplitude and frequency were found to increase frost formation. For the range of fluctuations tested (temperature amplitudes of 0.5–2.5 K and cooling rates of 0.0125–0.2 K/min when connected to the compressor), the simulation predicted that the amount of frost in the packages varied up to approximately 4.5 times (0.48–2.18 g/month for packages containing 300 g of minced meat) depending on the different temperature fluctuation settings.

Dew, frost, fog and lifted temperature minima: Observations in southern England and implications for modelling

AbstractGiven difficulties with modelling radiation fog and the similarity of meteorological conditions linked to dewfall and frost we investigated the formation of dew, frost and fog. For a site in the UK seven years of data were analysed representing high‐resolution atmospheric profiles and dew meter measurements for radiation nights with stable conditions. Classical dewfall occurs by condensation when the surface is below the dew point and cooler than the air above. However, the profiles show that, in the absence of fog, typically dew and frost form with the surface warmer than the immediately overlying air due to lifted temperature minima (LTMs) at about 0.15 m. Observations of aerosol number density and average hydrated radii show that aerosol optical extinction (and hence their radiative effect) is weakly but significantly correlated with the intensity of LTMs. Low wind speed on stable nights allows settling of aerosols which radiatively cool the air near the ground more quickly than the surface cools – thus creating LTMs. In the presence of LTMs typically dew and frost form not by condensation, but by occult deposition of water droplets onto the canopy and ground. Among radiation fog observations, 91% are associated with light near‐surface winds and LTMs. When the rate of removal of suspended water droplets by occult deposition generating dew or frost is too slow, then build‐up of droplets in the air just above the surface leads to the formation of radiation fog. Future modelling should allow for the accumulation of near‐surface aerosols and their radiative effects during stable nights to represent the formation of LTMs. Modelling of typical dew and frost will require representation of occult deposition. Assessing rates of occult deposition compared to rates of generation of suspended water droplets is needed to forecast the onset of radiation fog formed near the ground.

Analysis of frost layer growth behavior on cryogenic surfaces in ultralow dew point environments by experimental tests and numerical simulations

Maintaining an ultralow dew point is essential for the operation of transonic cryogenic wind tunnels, as it significantly influences aerodynamic characteristics. Even in extremely dry conditions, minute quantities of frost can form on cryogenic surfaces, which compromises data quality. Conducting experiments on frost desublimation in such ultralow dew point environments poses significant challenges due to the demanding experimental conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the desublimation characteristics of cryogenic surfaces in ultralow dew point environments and to address the challenges of experimental investigations under such extreme conditions. Initially, the study experimentally investigated frost formation by assessing the impact of various factors, such as temperature and water vapor content. It was observed that the type of frost formed depended on the water vapor content, and altering the surface temperature influenced the growth region of the frost crystals. The irregular growth of the frost layer on low-temperature surfaces was evident, as temperature markedly affected both the growth rate and the diffusion direction of frost formation. Moreover, the process of trace water frost formation was simulated using a dispersive multiphase model, predicting the frost layer's thickness. The numerical results suggest that the frost layer is micrometers thick, with a minimum thickness of 20 μm. A nonlinear relationship was identified between frost growth and dew point level. This research lays the groundwork for a deeper understanding of desublimation characteristics in ultralow dew point environments and for further investigation of low-temperature heat and mass transfer phenomena.

Present-day thermal and water activity environment of the Mars Sample Return collection

The Mars Sample Return mission intends to retrieve a sealed collection of rocks, regolith, and atmosphere sampled from Jezero Crater, Mars, by the NASA Perseverance rover mission. For all life-related research, it is necessary to evaluate water availability in the samples and on Mars. Within the first Martian year, Perseverance has acquired an estimated total mass of 355 g of rocks and regolith, and 38 μmoles of Martian atmospheric gas. Using in-situ observations acquired by the Perseverance rover, we show that the present-day environmental conditions at Jezero allow for the hydration of sulfates, chlorides, and perchlorates and the occasional formation of frost as well as a diurnal atmospheric-surface water exchange of 0.5–10 g water per m2 (assuming a well-mixed atmosphere). At night, when the temperature drops below 190 K, the surface water activity can exceed 0.5, the lowest limit for cell reproduction. During the day, when the temperature is above the cell replication limit of 245 K, water activity is less than 0.02. The environmental conditions at the surface of Jezero Crater, where these samples were acquired, are incompatible with the cell replication limits currently known on Earth.

Jumping droplets

AbstractWhen microdroplets with quasi‐spherical contact angles coalesce together on a low‐adhesion substrate, the capillary‐inertial expansion of the liquid bridge induces a dramatic out‐of‐plane jumping event due to symmetry breaking. From the onset of merging, droplet jumping initiates after a capillary‐inertial time scale of μs with characteristic jumping speeds of order m/s. This coalescence‐induced jumping‐droplet effect is most commonly observed among a population of growing dew droplets on a superhydrophobic condenser, but can also occur by colliding deposited droplets together or during droplet sliding on fog harvesters. In this review, we cover the historical development of capillary‐inertial jumping droplets, summarize the decade‐long effort to rationalize the ultra‐low energy conversion efficiency and critical droplet size of the phenomenon, and then present 15 variations on a theme of jumping. Capillary‐inertial jumping droplets are not only a visceral illustration of the surprising power of surface tension at the microscale but they also have the potential to enhance phase‐change heat transfer, enable self‐cleaning surfaces, combat frost formation, harvest energy, and govern the rate of disease spread for wheat crops.

Capacitive sensing of frost growth dynamics on aluminum surfaces with different wettabilities

Frost formation is a critical issue in many industries including air conditioning and refrigeration, aviation, transportation, and cryogenics. Frost buildup on heat exchanger surfaces reduces their efficiency by acting as a thermal resistance and by reducing or blocking the airflow. Defrosting is therefore necessary to maintain system efficiency. However, defrost initiation and cycle duration are critical parameters that govern system performance. Excessively early or late defrosting can result in energy loss. Frost detection is thus essential to carry out defrosting efficiently. To know when to initiate defrost, both the density and thickness of the frost must be known as both affect the frost thermal resistance. However, state of the art approaches are not sensitive to both frost density and thickness. Here, a capacitive sensing method is proposed that is sensitive to both the density and thickness of the frost. The method can achieve precise frost detection, offering insights into the ideal time to initiate defrosting by being sensitive to factors that affect frost specific thermal resistance. Experiments are carried out on plain (hydrophilic), superhydrophobic, and superhydrophilic aluminum surfaces at three different surface temperatures (−6 °C, −10 °C, −16 °C) to investigate the sensing performance. The capacitance measured increases with time as frost forms and grows. This change in capacitance, along with mass and thickness data, was used as a tool to characterize frost growth. The results indicate that decreasing wettability (superhydrophilic to plain (hydrophilic) to superhydrophobic) results in a decreasing trend in mass accumulation, frost density, and change in capacitance and an increasing trend in frost thicknesses and thermal resistance. It was also demonstrated that increasing surface temperature results in decreasing changes in capacitance (measurement sensitivity), mass accumulation, frost thicknesses, and thermal resistance, with an increasing trend in frost density. A strong correlation between frost mass and change in capacitance was observed regardless of surface temperature or wettability. This rendered implications for the best time of defrosting initiation. The proposed approach offers high accuracy, sensitivity, and convenience as a non-invasive method to study dynamic frost growth with insights into more optimal defrosting cycles, contributing to the development of more efficient energy systems.

Performance improvement of vapor compression heat pump with superhydrophobic finned-tube evaporator

Residential buildings frequently employ vapor compression heat pump for winter heating. Its advantages over electric and coal-fired heating include great energy effectiveness and low emissions. However, the outside evaporator's frosting negatively impacts the performance of heat pump systems in low-temperature and high-humidity environments. To ameliorate the frosting problem, a finned-tube heat exchanger with superhydrophobic surface wettability prepared by the wet chemical etching method was applied to a vapor compression heat pump in this study. The performance of a commercial evaporator unit and the superhydrophobic evaporator unit under five frosting conditions was investigated through experiments. The maximum heat transfer rate of the superhydrophobic heat exchanger unit was increased by 17%–44% compared with that of the commercial unit. The COP improvement of the superhydrophobic unit reached 11.2%, 14.3%, 18.8%, 20.9% and 31.9%, respectively. The total mass of frost formation of the superhydrophobic unit experienced a 59.2%–76.3% decrease. The operation time of the superhydrophobic evaporator unit before defrosting determination was significantly extended, reducing the number of defrosting times during a long-time operation. This study proves the advantages of superhydrophobic finned-tube evaporators used in heat pumps in terms of heat transfer performance and frost suppression performance, promoting the application of superhydrophobic finned-tube evaporators in heat pump air-conditioning systems.

To be or not to be a hydrophobic matrix? the role of coating hydrophobicity on anti-icing behavior and ions mobility of ionic liquids

The demand for anti-icing coatings to endure extremely low temperatures is substantial. Despite the innovative pioneering research on the anti-icing potential of ionic liquids (ILs), the development of such coatings is still in its infancy. Our study investigates how matrix hydrophobicity influences mobility of ILs at subzero temperatures and, consequently, their anti-icing behavior. Wettability results highlight the key role of IL anion hydrophobicity. Dielectric spectroscopy distinguishes ion mobility in the coatings at low temperatures. We also investigate how varying crosslink density affects ion mobility by measuring the water absorbency. Higher mobility of released ILs from the coatings at subzero was confirmed by their presence in water solutions, validated with UV–vis spectroscopy, and resulted in increased ionic conductivity. Differential scanning calorimetry and experimental setups were employed to assess ice formation temperature, time, and ice adhesion strength. Notably, surfaces containing IL exhibited a remarkable reduction in ice formation temperature to –23.5 ℃ and achieved an exceptionally low ice adhesion strength (∼15 kPa), attributed to the formation of a quasi-liquid layer (QLL). Solid-state NMR spectroscopy provided confirmation of the existence of QLL at the interface. Ice adhesion strength of coatings was examined against accelerated weathering, icing/de-icing cycles, as well as endurance against frost formation under freeze–thaw. Our findings underscore the significance of selecting the right matrix with regards to hydrophobicity and ILs when designing coatings for subfreezing applications.

Experimental study on the effect of inverted aperture plate temperature on frosting characteristics under rising flow considering edge effect

To reduce the negative impact of frost formation on cold surfaces in low-temperature environments, metal wire mesh can be set in the air flow direction from the cold surface to reduce air humidity. To quantitatively determine the effectiveness of dehumidification after passing through a metal wire, the frosting process needs to be studied. To analyze the mechanism of frost formation under the horizontal wire mesh surface, the wire mesh was simplified as a flat plate with holes, or aperture plate, with plate temperature varying at a range of -15.0 °C to -5.0 °C. The results show that, as the plate temperature decreases, the droplet condensation and growth and droplet solidification stages gradually decrease, the average frost layer thickness and frost layer growth rate rise, and overall frost layer surface roughness increases. For a frosting duration of 1,800 s, compared to -5.0 °C, the average frost layer thickness from -7.5 °C to -15.0 °C inside the hole increased by 56.68 % and 156.41 %, while the plate edge region away from the hole increased by 40.76 % and 169.92 %, respectively. The reverse melting frequency gap between the inside hole region and the plate edge region away from the hole increases with the decreasing aperture plate temperature. At -15.0 °C, the reverse melting frequency inside the hole is 5.00 × 10−3 Hz lower than in the region of the plate edge away from the hole. The results of this article are beneficial for understanding the frosting process of wire mesh or perforated-fin heat exchanger.

Experimental investigation of surface wettability on frosting propagation characteristics

The frost propagation process on surfaces plays a crucial role in the initial stages of surface condensation frosting, making it a significant aspect of the entire process. To investigate the relationship between surface wettability and the frost propagation velocity during condensation frosting, a microscopic visualization experiment platform was established. Three high-reflectivity surfaces with varying wettability were prepared to meet the experimental requirements. The frost propagation process can be divided into two stages: the freezing of intra-droplet and the ice bridge propagation between droplets. Experiment results revealed that the primary factor affecting the propagation speed of the ice bridge is the distance between the ice bridge and the droplet. As this distance reduces from approximately 16 μm to 2 μm, the propagation velocity of the ice bridge increases dramatically from around 2 μm/s to about 12 μm/s. Furthermore, the overall frost propagation velocity on surfaces with different wettability properties, were evaluated. The results indicate that the significant difference in droplet distribution characteristics and ice bridge propagation coefficients on superhydrophobic surfaces is the cause of slow frost formation during frosting on cold surfaces. This study identifies the key factor affecting the frost propagation and the inhibition of frost formation, namely, the droplet size distribution characteristics of superhydrophobic surfaces. These insights and findings provide a foundation for the design and optimization of anti-frost surfaces.

Effect of a magnetic field on droplet freezing and frost formation on cold surfaces

The effect of a magnetic field on condensed droplet freezing and frost formation was investigated using visualized experimental devices in this study. The size, shape, freezing time of droplets, and frost shape on the magnetic field considerably differ from those on the nonmagnetic surface. Moreover, the magnetic field could suppress droplet freezing and frost formation. The magnetic field suppression effect on droplet freezing and frost formation was analyzed according to the polarity characteristics of water molecules.

Characteristics of dew/hoar frost from Artemisia ordosica and bare soil based on weighing lysimeters in a semi-arid region

Dew and hoar frost are important water resources in arid and semi-arid regions. However, knowledge of the characteristics of dew/hoar frost formation in the typical shrub canopy of Northwestern China and its importance for vegetation survival is still not clear as it is difficult to observe. In this study, we investigated dew/hoar frost formation characteristics under both Artemisia ordosica and bare soil conditions based on weighing lysimeters in Mu Us Sandy Land, Northwest of China. The results show that dew and hoar frost occurred 214 days for Artemisia ordosica and 162 days for bare soil. The hoar frost formation mainly occurs from October to March, while dew formation occurs every month. The amount of hoar frost was 19.6 mm under Artemisia ordosica condition and 17.4 mm under bare soil condition, and the amount of dew was 27.5 mm of Artemisia ordosica and 18.4 mm of bare soil. The most common daily amount of dew/hoar frost is between 0 and 0.2 mm, which accounts for 60.7 % and 52.5 % of dew/hoar frost formation days for the Artemisia ordosica and bare soil conditions, respectively. The results from boosted regression tree analysis indicated that relative humidity had the greatest influence on dew/hoar frost formation. During soil drought periods (July 15 to August 18, 2021), the soil water content of Artemisia ordosica kept constant at 0.061 cm3/cm3, while the soil water content of bare soil was dropped at the rate of 0.00135 (cm3/cm3)/d. The ratio of dew amount of Artemisia ordosica to rainfall amount was 42.1 %. Despite the small amount of dew, it serves as a frequent and important supplementary water source for the ecosystem. This study provided valuable insights into dew/hoar frost formation, especially its importance for vegetation survival.