An analysis of incipient frost formation

An analytical and experimental study of frost growth on a cooled plate being exposed to forced convective humid air stream was carried out. Attention is mainly focused on the incipient phenomena of the frost formation including the growth of supercooled water droplets which are based on condensation of water vapor leaving the air. Two kinds of the plates having different contact angles to water droplet (110 deg and 43 deg) are used as the testing ones. The effects of the velocity, humidity, and temperature of the air stream, the contact angle to water droplet, and the temperature of the cooled plate on the frost formation are extensively determined. An analytical model which is based on the experimental observations is found to closely predict the general trends in the growths of the supercooled water droplets and the porous frost layer.