Dynamic study of frost formation on cryogenic surface

Abstract

Frost formation on cryogenic surfaces presents a significant challenge in the operation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) ambient air vaporizers, as frost buildup degrades heat transfer efficiency and imposes operational limitations. A multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to investigate heat and mass transfer during frost formation under cryogenic conditions, where the behaviour differs substantially from frost formation under conventional refrigeration conditions.

The model incorporates the Rans–Marshall correlation, identified as particularly suitable for accounting for frost formation under cryogenic conditions. Simulation results showed good agreement with experimental temperature profiles, validating the modelling approach. The study examined surface temperatures ranging from refrigeration to cryogenic levels and evaluated forced convection at different air velocities to understand the mass transfer process. Mass transfer rate was used as the key parameter to characterise frost formation differences across various operating conditions. The findings contribute to improved design and operational strategies for cryogenic heat exchange equipment exposed to atmospheric air.

@article{sun2020ijohamt,
  title         = {Dynamic study of frost formation on cryogenic surface},
  author        = {Sun, Biao and Ghatage, Swapnil and Evans, Geoffrey M. and Bhatelia, Tejas
                  and Utikar, Ranjeet P. and Pareek, Vishnu K.},
  year          = 2020,
  month         = apr,
  journal       = {International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer},
  volume        = 150,
  pages         = 119372,
  doi           = {10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2020.119372},
  issn          = {0017-9310},
  url           = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001793101934699X},
  urldate       = {2024-05-28}
}