Sublimation Behavior of Annular Frost Layer by Impinging Jet Flow

The present paper deals with a new method of defrosting using the frost sublimation phenomenon, which occurs below the triple point of water (273.16K, 610.5Pa). The present experimental study examines the mass transfer of the annular frost layer developed on a cooling pipe exposed to an impinging jet flow. The morphology of the frost layer during sublimation was observed using a digital video recorder. It was understood that the mass flux of the frost layer increased with increasing the jet flow velocity and the difference in the mass concentration of water vapor between the frost surface and the impinging jet flow. The non-dimensional correlation equations of mass transfer of defrosting were derived as functions of various parameters.