Frost formation and frost crystal growth on a cold plate in atmospheric air flow

The present study is concerned with the spatial variation of the frost thickness as well as the pattern of the frost crystals formed on a cold plate in atmospheric air. Experimental results regarding the two-dimensional variation of the frost thickness at the leading edge and observation on the growth of the frost crystals on the frost formation are provided. A microscopic image system is used to observe the structure of the frost layer. The environmental variables considered in this study include the velocity, temperature, and relative humidity of the air (V, Ta, and φ), as well as the surface temperature of the cold plate (Tw), which is varied by adjusting the cooling refrigerant temperature (Tref). The ranges of the physical variables considered in this study are 2⩽V⩽8 m/s, 18⩽Ta⩽30 °C, 40%⩽φ⩽70%, −18⩽Tref (and Tw)⩽0 °C.