4407 (RP-824) -- Modeling Frost Characteristics on Heat Exchanger Fins: Part I, Numerical Model PDF

A numerical model for predicting frost growth on plate-finheat exchangers is presented. The model treats the frost growthas a porous media that is transient and one-dimensional andincludes transient, two-dimensional heat conduction in thefins. As a result, frost properties vary over the fin surfaces. It is found that for a constant air flow rate through the heatexchanger over a four-hour period, the blockage of air flowresulting from the frost growth increases the pressure dropacross the heat exchanger by up to a factor of 8, while heattransfer rate decreases by only 20%.

Also paper MN-00-6-1, in MN-00-6, Symposium on Advances in Thermal and Fluid Fow Charateristics of HVAC and Refrigeration Processes

Units: Dual