Browsing by Subject "Refrigeration"

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    Experimental strategies for frost analysis
    (2013-12) Janssen, Daniel D.
    An area of increasing importance in the field of refrigeration is the study of frosting and defrosting. Frosting poses a concern to many refrigeration systems, as frost growth both obstructs airflow through low temperature heat exchangers and increases heat transfer resistance. Drastic decreases in system efficiency result from the compounding of these problems, and because it is difficult to prevent the frosting process, refrigeration systems must be defrosted periodically to restore optimal operating conditions. A deeper understanding of the complex physical processes of frosting and defrosting will lead to more efficient refrigeration system designs; an idea which has driven a rise in frost growth research over recent decades. Although research has shown great progress, there remain significant challenges associated with predicting the frosting and defrosting processes accurately under wide ranges of conditions. The equations governing such behavior still remain insoluble by exact analytical methods. Numerical approaches have shown the most promising results, but are yet in an early stage of development. Most research has instead been concerned with developing correlations for frost properties and growth, though few are applicable to varying conditions. The most commonly used correlations are shown to have widely different results, perhaps owing to different experimental methods used to acquire data and a lack of deeper level analysis. A new thickness correlation is proposed which attempts to reconcile to some degree the gap between theory and application. Broader ranges of data are used for fitment which enables the application of the correlation to a wider range of conditions. To improve the consistency of results in frost research, it is suggested that new forms of data acquisition be explored. Proposed alternative methods utilize high magnification imaging equipment in combination with computer based measurements, which are shown to be capable of improving accuracy by an order of magnitude in some areas (specifically frost thickness measurement) when calibrated appropriately. In addition to improving measurement accuracy such methods make possible the rapid calculation of droplet geometry during defrosting, an area which has seen little research until recently. The influence of the experimental apparatus on results is also investigated, and a variety of different setups used in past and recent research are categorized according to capability and functionality. Pros and cons of related parameters are discussed with an emphasis on goals. Opportunities for future work include the further development of computer based measurement methods, the acquisition of data over wider ranges of conditions and improvements on the experimental apparatus required to achieve those conditions reliably.It is clear from this research that frost growth is a developing field where much progress is yet to be made. Experimental setups of types ranging from small enclosed tests to wind tunnels on industrial evaporators have provided a clearer understanding of the phenomenon in many aspects. Research presented in this thesis shows that small scale experiments are preferable at this point in time to reach deeper understanding of the frost growth process. It is shown here that many current methods of measurement for important frost growth parameters can be greatly improved upon by the use of computer based algorithms. Faster and more accurate measurement opportunities mean that larger data sets spread across wider ranges of testing conditions can be obtained, setting the stage for more advanced correlation development. Currently, most correlations are only applicable to specific conditions and are still not highly accurate. An attempt is made to show that larger collections of reliable data can be used to develop more robust correlations. To do so a new correlation is proposed which fits a wide range of conditions well. Finally it is shown that the defrosting process may be understood more fully by the use of digital analysis of visual data during defrosting.
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    Heat and mass transfer during the melting process of a porous frost layer on a vertical surface
    (2013-05) Mohs, William Francis
    An important problem in the refrigeration industry is the formation and removal of frost layers on sub-freezing air coolers. The frost layer, a porous structure of ice and air, directly diminishes the performance and efficiency of the entire cooling system by presenting resistances to air flow and heat transfer in the air cooler. To return the system to pre-frosted performance the layer must be removed through a defrost cycle. The most common defrost cycle uses heat applied at the heat exchanger surfaces to melt the frost. Current methods of defrosting are inherently inefficient, with the majority of the heat being lost to the surrounding environment. Most studies have concentrated on the formation of the frost layer, and not the melting phenomena during the defrost cycle. In this study, direct measurements and a fundamental model to describe the melting process of a frost layer on a vertical heated surface are presented. The experimental facility provides the first direct measurements of heat and mass transfer during defrost. The measurements confirmed the multistage nature of defrost. The multistage model characterized the different thermal and mass transport processes that dominate each stage. The first stage is dominated by sensible heating of the frost layer. Both the experiment and model showed that heat and mass transfer through sublimation during the initial stages are insignificant, accounting for less than 1% of the total energy transfer. The second stage of defrost is dominated by the melting of the frost layer. The melt rate model generally predicts the front velocity within 25% of the velocity determined using the digital image analysis technique. Higher heat transfer rates resulted in faster melt velocity, and thus shortened defrost times. Evaporation of the melt liquid from the surface dominates the final stage. The heat transfer model for this stage predicts the heat transfer coefficient within ±25% of the experiment. The overall defrost efficiency was found to be primarily dependent on the initial frost thickness, with thicker layer having less heat lost to the ambient space and a higher efficiency.