A generalized simple model for predicting frost growth on cold flat plate

With the aim to develop a generalized model for predicting the frost growth on cold flat plate, experiments were conducted in a suction-type open-loop wind tunnel under variant frosting conditions. Based on the Hayashi correlation, a modified correlation of initial frost density was developed by the experimental results. After validating this proposed correlation, dynamic frosting characteristics, such as the frost thickness, density, frost surface temperature and heat flux were predicted under a wide range of frosting conditions. Compared with 25 groups of experimental results taken from this paper or previous open literatures, the average simulating errors were found to be limited within ±10%. The validation results indicate the proposed model is suitable to predict the dynamic heat and mass transfer process of the frost growth under a wide range of frosting conditions.

► Initial frost density is a key factor to influence the prediction results of the frost growth.
► A correlation of the initial frost density is proposed based on the Hayashi correlation.
► The proposed correlation for initial frost density greatly improves the simulation accuracy.
► Compared with the other method to set the initial frost density, the proposed correlation reveals good generability.