A simulation and experimental study on the effects of dual-source ultrasonic parameters on the defrosting performance of evaporator fins

Evaporator fins are prone to frosting in humid and cold environments, and the presence of a frost layer significantly affects heat transfer performance; therefore, efficient defrosting methods are crucial. This study first investigated the effects of the phase difference and arrangement of dual-source ultrasound on the shear stress of a rectangular aluminum plate surface through harmonic response simulation analysis. Subsequently, a visual experimental platform was established to systematically study the effects of dual-source ultrasonic transducers with different activation interval times and arrangements on defrosting effectiveness, duration, and energy consumption, and a comparison was made with traditional electric heating defrosting. The simulation results indicate that altering the phase difference and arrangement of the vibration sources can effectively change the standing wave effect on the aluminum plate surface, thereby influencing the distribution and magnitude of shear stress. The experimental study found that the optimal defrosting effect was achieved when the dual sources were arranged horizontally and activated at a 0.1 s interval, resulting in a frost coverage rate of only 6.47% after defrosting. Compared to traditional electric heating defrosting, assisting with an optimized ultrasonic solution can shorten the defrosting time from 774 s to 357 s and reduce energy consumption by 45.77%. This research provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the optimization and application of ultrasonic defrosting technology.