Frost modeling under cryogenic conditions

•Frosting experiment was conducted under cryogenic forced convection condition.•Frosting model for cryogenic conditions was developed and validated.•Frost growth behavior was numerically analyzed under cryogenic conditions.•Frost properties were discussed qualitatively and quantitively. A frost model for predicting frosting behavior under cryogenic conditions was developed. The frosting behavior was visualized through numerical analysis, and the results were compared to experimental data to confirm the validity of the model. It was shown that under cryogenic temperatures, a considerably low-density frost layer was formed owing to the frosting mechanism, which was sublimation-dominant frosting, rather than conventional condensation-freezing. It was qualitatively confirmed through experiments that low-density frost formed near the frost surface, and high-density frost formed near the cryogenic cold plate. Furthermore, the frost density distribution of the interior frost was quantitatively analyzed through a numerical analysis. The surface temperature of frost was seen to rise rapidly during the initial stage of frosting. Thus, it is possible to estimate the time at which the frosting mechanism changes from sublimation to condensation-freezing.