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DOE OSTI · 1874223

A physics-based model for frost buildup under turbulent flow using direct numerical simulations

Zgheib, N.·Farzaneh, M.·Balachandar, S.·Sherif, S. A.
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Abstract

We present a new model for frost buildup under turbulent (and laminar) flow using direct numerical simulations. The physical model consists of two layers, the air and the frost. The air layer is fully resolved and consists of solving for the velocity, temperature, and vapor mass fraction fields. The frost layer thickness is resolved using conservation of mass and energy. Both phases are dynamically coupled using the immersed boundary method. Three-dimensional simulations are conducted in an open-channel configuration. A number of challenges need to be overcome to make these simulations feasible. First, to enforce far-field conditions of zero gradient and prescribed mean temperature and humidity, a source term is added to the energy and transport equations in the flow solver. Second, the mean frost thickness is subtracted after each time step to ensure a constant mean flow thickness and level of turbulence in the numerical domain. Third, a slow-time acceleration approach, which accelerates the frost buildup by a predetermined factor, is employed to bridge the gap between the fast turbulent and slow frost buildup time scales. Finally, a frost densification scheme is used to overcome the difficulties of vertically varying frost properties. The model is validated by comparing the frost thickness and frost thickness buildup rate over a period of one hour from a cooled flat plate experiment. As a result, both quantities compare favorably with experiments.

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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATIONDirect numerical simulationsFreezersFrostFrost buildupHeat transferIceImmersed boundary methodMass transferMoist airTurbulent flow

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Zgheib, N., Farzaneh, M., Balachandar, S., Sherif, S. A.. 2021-09-25. A physics-based model for frost buildup under turbulent flow using direct numerical simulations. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2021.121915

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