翅片管式蒸发器结霜性能的仿真与实验研究

建立了结霜条件下翅片管蒸发器空气侧流动和换热的分布参数仿真模型,模型考虑了蒸发器结构、霜层厚度以及湿空气状态等参数在气流方向的沿程变化.对冰箱冷冻室蒸发器结霜条件下的动态性能进行了试验研究和数值模拟.结果表明,蒸发器结霜过程中的结霜量、能量传递系数和空气侧压降的计算值和试验值吻合良好,证明模型可以应用于翅片管蒸发器结霜性能的正确预测和优化设计分析.     

Modeling for predicting frosting behavior of a fin–tube heat exchanger

A mathematical model is proposed to evaluate the frosting behavior of a fin–tube heat exchanger under frosting conditions. Empirical correlations of the heat transfer coefficients for the plate and tube surfaces and a diffusion equation for the frost layer are used to establish the model. The correlations for the heat transfer coefficients, derived from various experimental data, were obtained as functions of the Reynolds number and Prandtl number. The proposed model is validated by comparing the numerical results with experimental data for the frost thickness, frost accumulation, and heat transfer rate. The numerical results agree well with the experimental data. It is also found that this model can be applied to evaluate the thermal performance of a common fin–tube heat exchanger under frosting conditions.     

结霜工况下变片距空气冷却器性能仿真与试验

以结霜工况下的变片距空气冷却器为研究对象,对空气冷却器建立分布参数计算模型,采用分子扩散理论建立霜层的生长模型。在计算过程中,采用空气冷却器迎风面的霜层厚度平均值作为变量迭代求解空气冷却器的风量。研究了变翅片间距结构对空气冷却器结霜工况下性能的影响,并进行了实验验证。实验结果表明:空气冷却器的风量、换热量变化趋势的实验值和计算值基本一致,偏差在5%左右。与定翅片间距空气冷却器相比,变翅片间距空气冷却器在结霜工况下具有较长的除霜周期和更好的传热性能。     

An experimental investigation on frosting characteristics of a microchannel outdoor heat exchanger in an air conditioning heat pump system for electric vehicles

To increase the driving range of electric vehicles in cold climate, air conditioning heat pump (ACHP) system is supposed to be the most effective solution. Working near 0°C with high humidity, the microchannel outdoor heat exchanger (OHX) in system would experience badly frosting process, like traditional residential heat pump system. It would lead to a significant reduction of system performance without defrosting in time. In this article, experimental investigation has been implemented on the frosting process of ACHP system of electric vehicles which is with a microchannel OHX. The phenomenon of frosting distribution was observed, the frosted part on surface shows uneven with various flows paths. The typical frosting characteristics of an outdoor microchannel heat exchanger were also obtained. In a self-designed three-heat exchanger ACHP system, the inlet and outlet refrigerant temperature of OHX as well as the outlet air temperature of system decrease with increasing frosting coverage rate. The frosting phenomenon was analyzed with variation of ambient temperature and humidity. System influence by frosting was also studied with under different ambient conditions. When OHX begins to frost, the heating capacity reduction of system under different ambient conditions were both increased but the differences in the coefficient of performance (COP) variations under different ambient conditions were small as frosting progressed.     

Comparison of heat pump performance using fin-and-tube and microchannel heat exchangers under frost conditions

Vapor compression heat pumps are drawing more attention in energy saving applications. Microchannel heat exchangers can provide higher performance via less core volume and reduce system refrigerant charge, but little is known about their performance in heat pump systems under frosting conditions. In this study, the system performance of a commercial heat pump using microchannel heat exchangers as evaporator is compared with that using conventional finned-tube heat exchangers numerically and experimentally. The microchannel and finned-tube heat pump system models used for comparison of the microchannel and finned-tube evaporator performance under frosting conditions were developed, considering the effect of maldistribution on both refrigerant and air sides. The quasi-steady-state modeling results are in reasonable agreement with the test data under frost conditions. The refrigerant-side maldistribution is found remarkable impact on the microchannel heat pump system performance under the frost conditions. Parametric study on the fan speed and the fin density under frost conditions are conducted as well to figure out the best trade-off in the design of frost tolerant evaporators.     

Experimental study of natural frost formation over a horizontal tube with annular compact fins under natural convection

This paper presents experimental measurements of natural convection heat transfer and frost deposition over a horizontal fin‐tube. Measurements are made for a fin‐tube of diameter 25.4 mm, fin thickness 0.4 mm, fin center diameter 56 mm, and fin spacing 2 mm. For measurements the ambient air temperature and relative humidity are changed from 18 to 25°C and from 35% to 55%, respectively. The tube surface temperature is changed from –5 to –9 °C, and super cooling degrees of 7.5 to 24.5 °C. Results include a visualization of frost deposition growth, frost accumulation rate, and heat transfer rate with respect to time for each experiment. The results show that cold air starts from the upper point and moves downward and frost deposition starts on the fin tips, and grows with time both radially and angularly. Frost growth thickness changes significantly from top to bottom, where the boundary layers of both thermal and concentration increase at the bottom of the fin‐tube section without considerable separation. Frost growth only takes place on the fin's tip and it blocks the heat and mass transfer from the fin surfaces and the tube base which reduces convection and frost growth considerably. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20397     

Fin spacing optimization of a fin-tube heat exchanger under frosting conditions

Optimal values of the design parameters for a fin-tube heat exchanger of a household refrigerator under frosting conditions are proposed to improve its thermal performance and extend its operating time. In the optimization procedure, fin spacings of the heat exchanger are selected as the design parameters, and the average heat transfer rate, frost mass, and operating time are considered to be objective functions. The response surface and Taguchi methods are employed to optimize the design parameters. As a result, the average heat transfer rate and operating time of the optimum models increases by up to 6.3% and 12.9% compared to that of the reference model, respectively.     

Observation of surface crystal sublimation during frosting

Morphological variation of surface ice crystals on a cooling surface during frosting was visually observed using a microscope. In the full growth stage of a frost layer, unusual sublimation started from the root of a prism‐like crystal together with the growth of other nearby plate crystals. Under different environmental conditions, the sublimation could proceed in two ways: snapped at the neck or melted in the crown. Local negative saturation induced by the coupled distributions of temperature and humidity is proposed for interpreting this phenomenon. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20281     

Frost behavior on a fin considering the heat conduction of heat exchanger fins

A mathematical model is proposed for predicting frost behavior on a heat exchanger fin under frosting conditions, taking into account fin heat conduction. The change in the three-dimensional airside airflow caused by frost growth is reflected in this model. The numerical estimates of frost thickness are consistent with experimental data, with an error of less than 10%. Due to fin heat conduction, frost thickness decreases exponentially toward the fin tip, while considerable frost growth occurs near the fin base. When a constant fin surface temperature is assumed, the predicted frost thickness was larger by more than 200% at maximum, and the heat flux by more than 10% on average, compared to results obtained with fin heat conduction taken into account. Therefore, fin heat conduction could be an essential factor in accurately predicting frost behavior. To improve prediction accuracy under the assumption of constant fin surface temperature, the equivalent temperature (for predicting frost behavior) is defined to be the temperature at which the heat transfer rate neglecting fin heat conduction is the same as the heat transfer rate with fin heat conduction taken into consideration. Finally, a correlation for predicting the equivalent temperature is suggested.     

Experimental investigation on the performance of air cooler under frosting conditions

Evaluation of heat transfer performance of the air cooler under frosting conditions is of great importance for the refrigeration industry. In this paper, effects of frost growth on the performance of the air cooler have been studied with an experimental air cooler of industrial size with different fin spacings, i.e., 6, 8 and 10 mm. Results showed that factors affecting the heat transfer performance of the air cooler include the evaporation temperature, the frost height, the fin spacing and the air velocity. The overall heat transfer coefficients based on a logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD) and the energy transfer coefficients based on a logarithmic mean enthalpy difference (LMED) were calculated. As the frost accumulated on the air cooler, the overall heat transfer coefficient and energy transfer coefficient will drop gradually.     

Characteristics and performance evaluation of surface-treated louvered-fin heat exchangers under frosting and wet conditions

Hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and dual (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) coatings were applied to louvered-fins typically used for heat pump heat exchangers, and the characteristics and performance of the heat exchangers under both frosting and wet conditions were compared according to surface treatment. The hydrophilic heat exchanger had the highest air-side pressure drop under frosting conditions. The hydrophobic unit had a lower air-side pressure drop than the others (hydrophilic and dual), due to frost retardation, and the reduction of the heat transfer rate was also smaller. The dual-fin heat exchanger exhibited frost retardation only in the early stage of the experiment, and the heat transfer rate was slightly greater than that of the hydrophilic unit. In wet-condition experiments for evaluating the evaporating performance of surface-treated heat exchangers, the hydrophilic unit had a lower air-side pressure drop than the others, due to the thin film of water condensation on the fins. The differences in the heat transfer rates of the heat exchangers were not significant.     

肋片管式换热器过饱和假设下结霜数学模型的建立

在空气和霜层之间为过饱和空气假设的基础上，针对平肋肋片管式换热器的结霜过程，建立了数学模型，考虑了霜层密度变化和霜层阻力引起空气流量减小等因素，并将结霜模型与换热器传热特性模型有机地结合起来。     

Prediction of the frost formation on a cold flat surface

A mathematical model is presented to predict the behavior of frost formation by simultaneously considering the air flow and the frost layer. The present model is validated by comparing with several other analytical models and our experiments. It is found that most of the previous models cause considerable errors depending on the working conditions or the correlations used in predicting the frost thickness growth, whereas the model in this work estimates the thickness, density, and surface temperature of the frost layer more accurately within an error of 10% except the early stage of frosting in comparison with the experimental data. Numerical results are presented for the variations of heat and mass transfer during the frost formation and for the behavior of frost layer growth along the direction of air flow. Also, a correlation between the convective heat and mass transfer is obtained as Le⁽¹⁻ⁿ⁾=0.905±0.005 in this work.     

Effects of air flow maldistribution on refrigeration system dynamics of air source heat pump chiller under frosting conditions

The effects of air flow maldistribution on the performance of an air source heat pump chiller under frosting conditions were investigated experimentally. The results indicated that air flow maldistribution was the dominant factor leading to hunting of the thermostatic expansion valve for medium and/or large size finned tube evaporators. With air flow maldistribution degree (AMD) increasing, frost occurred earlier, and the frost layer grew faster. The operating characteristics became lower when AMD was increased. We found such phenomenon seemed to be related to both the difference of refrigerant outlet superheat and the frosting velocity. In the hunting stage, the frost block effect became the main factor degrading the refrigeration system performance. With AMD increasing, the heat pump system pertinent performance data (suction pressure, evaporation temperature, discharge pressure, refrigerant outlet temperature, etc.) were degraded more dramatically.     

Minimising frost growth on cold surfaces exposed to humid air by means of crosslinked hydrophilic polymeric coatings

Experiments have shown that frost growth on cold surfaces exposed to warm humid air streams can be reduced significantly by means of crosslinked hydrophilic polymeric coatings. This derives from the ability of these materials, under frosting conditions, to absorb available water, and hence retard the growth of frost when compared to an uncoated metallic surface. The extent of reduction of frost growth appeared to vary with the water absorbing potential of the polymer-coat, as well as its water content prior to frosting. In general, measurements in over two hours of testing, indicated that the reduction in frost growth rate and subsequently frost thickness lies in the range, 10–30%. The absorbed water improves the thermal conductivity of the polymeric coating. This, consequently, lowers the total thermal resistance between the air stream and the cold plate, and hence retards the frost surface temperature in its rise towards 0°C, an effect that would prolong the effective operation time of the thermal process before there is need for defrosting. Further observations made in this study tend to suggest that the nature of the frost formed with an air stream of low relative humidity (RH) differed from that resulting from a high RH air stream.     

Empirical heat transfer and frost thickness correlations during frost deposition on a cylinder in cross-flow in the transient regime

This paper reports on results of an experimental investigation where the emphasis was placed on obtaining empirical correlations for the frost thickness–time history and the heat transfer coefficient–time history for a cylinder in humid air cross-flow. The facility employed for the investigation consisted of a low-velocity wind tunnel comprised of a rectangular test section, a transition section and a honeycomb placed at the tunnel entrance. An external refrigerator was used to cool an antifreeze solution having a mixture of 90% methanol and 10% ethylene glycol. Measured parameters included, among other things, the heat transfer coefficient as well as the frost thickness. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic characteristics of an air-to-water heat pump under frosting/defrosting conditions

The dynamic characteristics of a medium air-to-water heat pump with multi-circuit evaporator controlled by the thermostatic expansion valve (TEV) under the frosting/defrosting conditions were investigated experimentally. The airflow maldistribution often occurs if the fin-and-tube heat exchangers in a medium heat pump are arranged in V-type or W-type position with the fan at the top. The experimental results show that the airflow maldistribution will result in the intermittent or unceasing hunting during the frosting period, which is not published in public yet. The airflow uniformity causes every circuit to see the different airflow rates. The liquid refrigerant was not evaporated completely in some circuits with the less airflow rate and a little liquid refrigerant flowed out at the outlet, which resulted in less superheat than the necessary MSS (minimum-stable-signal) of the TEV at the outlet of the evaporator. The TEV had the intermittent hunting during the first two-thirds of the frosting period. Afterwards, the combination of the airflow maldistribution and the airflow drop caused by the frost blocking resulted in more liquid refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator. Hence, the TEV had the unceasing hunting during the last one-third of the frosting period. Finally, the operating parameters for both the low-pressure and the high-pressure sides have the intermittent or unceasing hunting during the frosting period, which synchronized with that of the TEV.     

Assessment of a domestic heat pump 2: Component and frosting analysis

The performance of the heat exchangers of an unsophisticated air-air heat pump are examined with particular emphasis on the evaporator frosting characteristics. The data relate to an operating domestic heat pump in Dunedin. Evaporator frosting reduces the seasonal COP by only a small amount (less than 1.7%) in this example but the defrost rate is shown to be very sensitive to small changes in the evaporator capacity. Thus frost formation generally has an important influence on the evaporator optimization calculation. The effectiveness of the expansion valve and of the defrost thermostat is also analysed, and particular opportunities for improving the system are identified.     

Modeling of hot gas flow through a feed stream within a horizontal pipe

High heat penetration into a feed stream within a horizontal pipe is described mathematically with a gas flow and heat transfer model. Influences of varied factors on the gas flow and heat transfer in porous media are examined for different conditions. The temperature of the packed‐bed particles and the gas velocity distribution curves are obtained for the feeding service at interruption and at regular charge operating conditions. The numerical results show that the thermal effect to the packed‐bed particles by the seepage flow fluid is high only in the position near the gas entrance. The thermal penetration depth tends to increase with the seepage flow velocity and decrease with the feed rate. The operating conditions and the porosity of solid bed have importance effects on the gas velocity and temperature field in the thermal penetration zone. The model results are found to compare favorably with the experimental data available in the literature. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 32(6): 553–565, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.10109     

Defrost improvement by heat pump refrigerant charge compensating

During winters, the air-source heat pump often operates with substantial frost formation on the outdoor heat exchanger, and the frost layer has to be melted away periodically to keep a high heat pump coefficient of performance (COP). Otherwise, the unmelted frost layer and water will become high density frost or ice layer in heating mode. However, it is difficult to melt the frost layer in the defrosting cycle, where the effective defrosting time plays an important role in improving the defrosting ability. Generally, the defrosting time can be decreased by the following ways: increasing the refrigerant flow rate effectively, and rapidly establishing the suction pressure, discharge pressure, and the compressor power. A new heat pump defrost system with a refrigerant charge compensator, instead of the accumulator which is a key component for the frosting cycle performance, is developed in this paper. Furthermore, test results showed that the improved frost system with the compensator worked as expected, and its suction and discharge pressures and the power of the compressor during the defrosting were much larger than before.