Frost accumulation in the non-hygroscopic rotary heat exchanger for heat recovery

In this paper, a process of frost accumulation inside the non-hygroscopic rotary heat exchanger depending on operating conditions is investigated. The study was based on the results of the numerical simulations conducted in the original computer program. The analysis considers both the threshold conditions of frost accumulation and the conditions of frost layer growth. For this purpose, three indicators related to frost accumulation were distinguished: a frost accumulation limit temperature, a surface of the matrix covered with the accumulated frost layer, a maximum thickness of the accumulated frost layer. The analyzes assessed the influence of operating parameters on these indicators, focusing on the return air relative humidity. It was revealed that the highest values of this parameter cause the greater thickness of the frost layer. However, the largest ' frost' accumulation area was created in the range of average return air relative humidity values - in the analyzed cases it was RH 2 i =38.5 %. The paper also includes a detailed analysis of the threshold temperature of frost accumulation. These limits of outdoor air temperature were determined for a wide range of operating parameters ' values: both airstream relative humidity and nominal temperature effectiveness. Additionally, eight probable configurations of active heat and mass transfer areas within rotary heat exchanger channels were revealed, which are related to the initiation of frost accumulation. Consequently, the locations of the initial ' frost' accumulation area were predicted. It was also found that the greatest impact on the frost accumulation threshold temperature has the return air relative humidity RH 2 i , although this influence is not unequivocal. The most unfavorable conditions regarding nominal temperature effectiveness in terms of frost accumulation are also unclear. In some cases, it was even demonstrated that an increase in the effectiveness can eliminate the ' frost' accumulation area.