Dynamic study of frost formation on cryogenic surface

Abstract In this study, a multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed to investigate the heat and mass transfer phenomenon of frost formation under cryogenic conditions. It is observed from experimental studies that frost formation on a vertical cryogenic surface showed different behaviours compared to refrigeration conditions. Through comparing different empirical correlations of mass transfer, it is found that the Rans–Marshall correlation is suitable to be used to account for frost formation under cryogenic conditions. The simulation results show a good agreement with the experimental study in terms of temperature profile. The mass transfer rate is taken as the parameter to characterise the differences of frost formation under different conditions. Surface temperatures ranging from refrigeration to cryogenic are investigated in order to understand the systematic change of frosting behaviour. Conditions of forced convection at different air velocities are studied to evaluate the mass transfer process. The methodology and results discussed in this study can provide in-depth understandings of mass transfer phenomenon at cryogenic conditions.