Fixed grid numerical modelling of frost growth and densification

A fixed-grid-porous-media method capable of simulating the growth and densification of frost sheets is here presented. A velocity field is calculated across the entire domain, in which a porous media treatment is given to the ice-containing cells. The transported temperature and vapour density are used to define the thermophysical state of each cell, which might enable phase change. As an improvement to Bartrons et al. (2017), the method hereby presented accounts for solidification and sublimation phase transitions. The explicit time step has also been increased by using a semi-implicit treatment of the energy equation. Furthermore, a special boundary condition for cold surfaces has been developed in order to overcome the averaging effect that prevents ice formation in the cells adjacent to the wall. The method is then tested with a study case of a duct flow with a non-homogeneously cooled lower boundary. Several numerical tests are carried out in order to understand the capabilities of the model. The influence of accounting for the convection, as well as the enhanced diffusion resistance factors within the frost layer, is studied by means of the calculated porosity and velocity fields throughout the domain. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.