Experimental and numerical study of frost formation by natural convection over a cold horizontal circular cylinder

Frost growth over a cold horizontal circular cylinder by natural convection has been investigated experimentally and numerically. Ambient air relative humidity, temperature and the cold surface temperature have been varied between 30% and 60%, 20 and 35 °C and −10 and −4 °C respectively. For detail analysis a mathematical model is used to simulate numerically frost formation process. For the first time, multistage modeling and supersaturation assumption is taken into account in the modeling of frost formation under natural convection condition. Comparisons are performed among the results of numerical model and experimental measurements and it is shown that the present model can be used more efficiently to determine frost growth and its properties. Based on the results, new correlations are developed for frost properties.