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Study on Frost-Suppression Characteristics of Superhydrophobic Aluminum Surface Heat Exchanger Applied in Air Source Heat Pump

Author

Listed:
  • Yaxiu Gu

    (School of Civil Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Guixiang He

    (School of Civil Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Shuaipeng Li

    (School of Civil Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Weiqi Ding

    (School of Civil Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Hanlin Li

    (School of Civil Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Jiahui Duan

    (Guangzhou Traffic Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510000, China)

Abstract

In order to solve the frosting problem of air source heat pump (ASHP) outdoor heat exchange under low-temperature and low-humidity conditions, a superhydrophobic aluminum (Al) surface with a contact angle (CA) of 158.3° was prepared by chemical etching. The microscopic characteristics of droplet condensation and the freezing process of a superhydrophobic surface were revealed through visual experiments and theoretical analysis. On this basis, the frost-suppression effect of a superhydrophobic Al-based surface simulating the distribution of actual heat exchanger fins was preliminarily explored. The results demonstrated that, due to the large nucleation energy barrier and the coalescence-bounce behavior of droplets, the condensed droplets on the superhydrophobic surface appeared late and their quantity was low. The thermal conductivity of the droplets on a superhydrophobic surface was large, so their freezing rate was low. The frosting amount on the superhydrophobic Al-based surface was 69.79% of that of the bare Al-based surface. In turn, the time required for melting the frost layer on the superhydrophobic Al-based surface was 64% of that on the bare Al-based surface. The results of this study lay an experimental and theoretical foundation for the application of superhydrophobic technology on the scale of heat exchangers.

Suggested Citation

  • Yaxiu Gu & Guixiang He & Shuaipeng Li & Weiqi Ding & Hanlin Li & Jiahui Duan, 2022. "Study on Frost-Suppression Characteristics of Superhydrophobic Aluminum Surface Heat Exchanger Applied in Air Source Heat Pump," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:1954-:d:745160
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Song, Mengjie & Deng, Shiming & Dang, Chaobin & Mao, Ning & Wang, Zhihua, 2018. "Review on improvement for air source heat pump units during frosting and defrosting," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 1150-1170.
    2. Stefan Jung & Manish K. Tiwari & N. Vuong Doan & Dimos Poulikakos, 2012. "Mechanism of supercooled droplet freezing on surfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 1-8, January.
    3. Amer, Mohammed & Wang, Chi-Chuan, 2017. "Review of defrosting methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 53-74.
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    5. Huang, Dong & Li, Quanxu & Yuan, Xiuling, 2009. "Comparison between hot-gas bypass defrosting and reverse-cycle defrosting methods on an air-to-water heat pump," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(9), pages 1697-1703, September.
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