Modeling and performance analyses of fin-and-tube heat exchanger operating under frost conditions

Abstract

As far as the frost accumulation in fin-and-tube heat exchangers is concerned (regarding this process as a quasi-dynamic), a time-dependent distributed parameter model of fin-and-tube heat exchangers in the presence of frosting is presented. The model consists of two different sub-models: frosting and heat exchanger. The model results are compared with the experimental data, and an average error between them of ~20% was found. In addition, the performances of the fin-and-tube heat exchangers under frost conditions, obtained from the experimental results, have been analyzed. These experimental results reveal that the inlet air velocity, temperature and relative humidity strongly affect frost thickness, frost mass accumulation, evaporating pressure and pipe wall temperature.