Authors
Kazi Fazle Rabbi, Kalyan S.Boyina, Wei Su, Soumyadip Sett, Anand Thamban, Shantanu Shahane, Sophie Wang, Nenad Miljkovic
Publication date
2020/10/17
Journal
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
Volume
164
Pages
120563
Publisher
Elsevier
Description
Finned heat exchangers used in energy applications regularly undergo condensation frosting. Understanding the effects of fin spacing on frost growth with surfaces having differing wettability is important for the design of next-generation heat exchangers. This study presents an experimental investigation using high-resolution optical imaging of frost growth between two parallel vertical plain aluminum fins as a function of surface wettability (hydrophilic, superhydrophilic, superhydrophobic), fin surface temperature (-5 to -15 °C), fin spacing (2 to 8 mm), and relative humidity (≈ 50 and 70%). We observe two distinct regimes of frost growth for all test conditions. The effect of surface wettability on frost growth rate becomes significant for fin spacing ≤ 6 mm at fin surface temperatures below -10 °C. The fin surface temperature plays a significant role for fin spacing > 4 mm. Furthermore, for hydrophilic surfaces, the effect of …
Total citations
20212022202320246738
Scholar articles
KF Rabbi, KS Boyina, W Su, S Sett, A Thamban… - International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2021