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Experimental investigations of air-cooler operating under frost conditions.

Number: pap. 2601

Author(s) : GAGAN J., SMIERCIEW K., BUTRYMOWICZ D., et al.

Summary

The fin-and-tube heat exchangers are extensively used in many fields, especially in HVACR (heat, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems). When such heat exchangers operate as an air-coolers, in most of the cases, lower air temperature is achieved. When moist air flows across cold surfaces of the heat exchanger whose temperature is lower than the freezing point then frost formation will occur. This frost accumulation is undesirable in most cases since it negatively affects heat transfer due to the insulation of frost layer and causes pressure loss by blockage of air flow as the frost grows. This will lead to an undesirable degradation of the heat exchanger thermal performance. The analysis of the effect of the frosting process on the finned tube air cooler performance is presented in the paper. On the basis of the long-term experimental investigations of the air-cooler applied in the cold storage chamber the thermal degradation of the heat exchanger performance is discussed. The influence of the frost on the cooling capacity, by-pass factor and thermal resistance are shown. Temperature distribution of air passing through the air-cooler before and after the defrost procedure are presented and discussed. A method of the assessment of the amount of frost formed on the heat exchanger surface based on visualization of the cooler surface during operation and synchronized with the thermal measurements was developed. Analysis carried out with application of the proposed approach revealed that frosting causes deterioration of the tested air cooler refrigeration capacity up to 40%.

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Pages: 8

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Details

  • Original title: Experimental investigations of air-cooler operating under frost conditions.
  • Record ID : 30024666
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 2018 Purdue Conferences. 17th International Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Conference at Purdue.
  • Publication date: 2018/07/09

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