Equation of the growth rate of frost forming on cooled surfaces

Abstract Based on accurate measurements of a cooled tube the frost thickness turns out to be independent of the variables commonly significant on mass transfer, such as Reynolds number and vapor pressure difference. The frost thickness rather follows the law of crystal growth which is largely affected by the ratio of supersaturation and conduction of the heat of sublimation delivered when the molecule is incorporated into the lattice. The equation derived from a simplified model, satisfies the measured values with a probable error of ± 3.7%. The calculated values are in good agreement with experimental results of previous investigators even in the case of different geometrical shape and arrangement of the cooled surface as well as different kind of flow.