Electric defrosting analysis of a finned-tube evaporator coil using the enthalpy method
Abstract
When moist air comes into contact with a surface maintained at a subfreezing temperature, which is also below the dew-point temperature of water vapour in air, frost will form. Although this frost formation process is associated with a temporary increase in the heat transfer rate in the initial stages of deposition, the overall thermal performance over an extended period of time is degraded due to the insulating effect of the frost and also due to blockage of the coil and the accompanying reduction in air flow. One method of defrosting employs electric heat to melt the frost of the coil. This paper describes how the enthalpy method can be used to calculate the defrosting time and the temperature distribution in the frost layer during the defrosting process of a finned-tube evaporator coil. While the analysis presented applies mainly to electric defrosting, the method can be easily modified to handle different defrosting methods and processes.
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A lumped film control volume that integrates frost, liquid water, and solid ice is developed using an enthalpy method.
“A lumped film control volume that integrates frost, liquid water, and solid ice is developed using an enthalpy method (Alebrahim and Sherif 2002).”
From Frost/Defrost Models for Air-Source Heat Pumps with Retained Water Refreezing Considered (2024) · cites this paper as Alebrahim and Sherif 2002
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- Authors
- Alebrahim, A. M., & Sherif, S. A.
- Affiliations
- Kuwait University (KW)
- University of Florida (US)
- ORCID
- Sherif, S A
- Venue
- Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2002-06-01
- Volume
- 216
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 655-673
- ISSN
- 0263-7154 (ISSN-L)
- 0954-4062
- 2041-2983
- OpenAlex
- W2041016166
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part C Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Icing and De-icing Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Heat Transfer and Optimization
- Keywords
- frost formation, defrosting time, enthalpy method, air conditioning heat exchangers
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