Defrost

In all air cooling systems, condensation occurs when the surface of the evaporator is below the
dew temperature of the chamber air, which produces frost and ice. Defrosting consists of
periodically removing the ice and frost that forms on the evaporator. Image next, how the frost
pipes may look.

When the freezing process takes place in an evaporator, the first thing that forms is frost on the
surface. In the first instance this improves heat transmission but as the frost increases, the
transmission worsens due to the decrease in air flow. This humidity inside the chamber is due to
air infiltrations that are usually caused by door openings when refrigerating a product, this is why
we defrost the equipment. Image of ventilators next up.

DEFROST TYPES

The main characteristic of defrosting is the contribution of heat to the evaporator to melt the
accumulated ice and frost. There are multiple ways to eliminate ice and frost:

Defrost by water: which is about spraying water on the evaporator.

Air defrost: It consists of the application of heat using air.

 IMAGE 1

Defrost by electric resistances. It is the most used method. It consists of conductors that act as
electrical resistances that pass through the fins of the evaporator. These are connected to the
electrical network and transform energy into heat. As it is shown in the image before this text
(IMAGE 1).

IMAGE 2

Hot gas defrost: used due to its considerable energy savings. These systems are based on the
operation of refrigerant diversion systems at high temperatures from the discharge gas or liquid
from the container to the evaporators. As it is shown in the image before this text (IMAGE 2)

Natural defrost. This technique is the simplest. You simply have to turn off the condensing unit
during the time it takes to defrost the pipes.

THE DEFROST PROCESS

The heat input can take place from inside or outside the evaporator and must cause the minimum
effect so that the stored product does not deteriorate.

As a result of defrosting, the evaporator stops being the coldest point and becomes the point with
the highest temperature in the chamber.
Another important factor is the evacuation of water generated by the melting of ice from the
evaporator. This water is collected in trays that have an evacuation drain. NEXT UP DEFROSTING
IMAGE, PROCESSES (IMAGE 3), how the components work.

IMAGE 3

STAGES OF THE DEFROST PROCESS

Start of defrost and evaporation of the liquid inside the evaporator: The defrost process begins
when we stop the production of cold for a period of time in which all the refrigerant liquid inside
the evaporator evaporates.

Ice melting: The temperature is then raised to melt the accumulated ice. Heat begins to be given
to the evaporator until the temperature rises to 0 ºC.

Evaporator drain time: Time is required to facilitate the evacuation of condensate after melting
ice.

Refrigerant injection: After completing the defrost, the refrigerant liquid is reintroduced into the
evaporator so that the temperatures drop again.

Delay in connecting the fans: to prevent water from being projected into the chamber.

NEXT UP SHOWN (IMAGE 4), cycle and stages of defrost, how they work

IMAGE 4