Restrained frost effect of hydrophilic coating at initial stages of frost formation
1. School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China; 2. School of Automotive Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510641, China）
Abstract：The hydrophilic coating effect on frost growth was studied in searching an effective method to restrain the frost formation. Characteristics of frost formation on hydrophilic surface were studied, the microscopical picture of frost was described, and digital image processing technique was used to analyze the distribution of ice crystal in frost layer. The results indicate that hydrophilic coating restrains frost formation and reduces the frost height and the ice crystal quantity. Furthermore, the structure of ice crystal is changed at initial stages of frost formation, and the ice crystals stand upside down at this period. The analysis on column occupancy rate indicates that the distribution of initial ice crystal occupancy rate on hydrophilic surface is not uniform; such frost even enhances the heat transfer. Finally, by comparing the frost heights on different surfaces it is found that the restrained frost ability of hydrophilic coating decreases with time.
2008, Vol. 29 
