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Frost prediction based on a 3D CFD model of heat and mass transfer in a counter-cross-flow parallel-plate liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger

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  • Building Systems and Components
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Abstract

The frosting is a critical phenomenon in building systems because it decreases the performance of exchangers and damages them. In this article, heat and mass transfer in a specified liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE) and their effects on condensation and frost formation are simulated numerically using the 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. The CFD model has been validated with experimental results for different design parameters, and the agreement is within ±2%. The developed CFD model provides the distribution of temperature and humidity ratio and MgCh concentration along the LAMEE. In the present study, effects of exchanger structure on producing viscosity and heat and mass transfer are studied. The selected LAMEE is a counter cross structure, therefore vortices appear in the inlet and outlet solution channel, and their influence can be seen on heat transfer in these parts. In addition, the diffusion of heat and mass transfer are studied on distributions of temperature and humidity ratio. Results show that the permeable membrane and moisture transfer make more regular temperature distribution along airflow direction in energy exchangers. This study provides an extended vision of heat and mass transfer. A 3-dimensional CFD model is developed to predict frost formation based on obtained temperature and humidity ratio. The CFD model is validated with an experimental study by calculating the frost limit. The developed model distinguishes condensed and frosted areas, and a new parameter is defined for this purpose namely as the frosted humidity ratio. Results show that frost and condensation distributions depend significantly on temperature and humidity ratio distributions. Adjusting temperature and humidity ratio to avoid air vapor to reach to saturation conditions is the better way to combat frosting.

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Abbreviations

A :

membrane surface area (m2)

C :

concentration (%)

c p :

specific heat capacity (J kg−1 K−1)

Cr*:

ratio between desiccant solution and air heat capacity rates

D :

width of the rectangular channel (m)

D T,i :

thermal (Soret) diffusion coefficient (m2 s−1 K−1)

D m,i :

mass diffusion coefficient (m2 s−1)

D va :

coefficient of moisture diffusion in the air (m2 s−1)

D vm :

coefficient of moisture diffusion in the membrane (m2 s−1)

D vs :

coefficient of moisture diffusion in the solution (m2 s−1)

E :

energy (J)

\(\overrightarrow{F}\) :

external body force (N m−3)

H :

enthalpy (J kg−1)

h air :

convective heat transfer coefficient on the air side (W m−2 K−1)

h sol :

convective heat transfer coefficient on the solution side (W m−2 K−1)

h ph :

phase change heat transfer coefficient (J kg−1)

h m,air :

convective mass transfer coefficient on the air side (kg m−2 s−1)

h m,sol :

convective mass transfer coefficient on the solution side (kg m−2 s−1)

\(\overrightarrow{J}_{i}\) :

diffusion flux of species i (mol m−2 s−1)

k :

thermal conductivity (W m−1 K−1)

k m :

membrane water vapor permeability (kg m−1 s−1)

K eff :

effective conductivity (W m−1 K−1)

ṁ :

mass flow rate (kg s−1)

P :

pressure (Pa)

q :

heat transfer (J)

R m :

resistance to moisture (s/m)

T :

temperature (°C)

U m :

overall mass transfer coefficient (kg m−2 s−1)

U :

overall heat transfer coefficient (W m−2 K−1)

u, v :

velocity component (m s−1)

W :

humidity ratio (kgv kgair−1)

Y :

local mass fraction

X sol :

water mass fraction of salt solution (kgwater kgair−1)

x, y, z :

coordinates (m)

ε :

effectiveness

\(\rho\overrightarrow{g}\) :

gravitational body force (N m−3)

δ :

thickness of membrane (m)

\(\overrightarrow{\tau}\) :

stress tensor (N m−2)

ρ :

density (kg m−3)

CHR:

condensed humidity ratio

FHR:

frosted humidity ratio

HVAC:

heating, ventilating and air-conditioning

LAMEE:

liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger

air:

air

i :

each species

in:

inlet

lat:

latent

mem:

membrane

min:

minimum

out:

outlet

sat:

saturation

sen:

sensible

sol:

solution

tot:

total

v:

vapor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

    Mohammad Alipour Shotlou & Nader Pourmahmoud

Authors
  1. Mohammad Alipour Shotlou
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  2. Nader Pourmahmoud
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Correspondence to Mohammad Alipour Shotlou.

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Alipour Shotlou, M., Pourmahmoud, N. Frost prediction based on a 3D CFD model of heat and mass transfer in a counter-cross-flow parallel-plate liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger. Build. Simul. 16, 2063–2076 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-023-1044-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-023-1044-y

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