Numerical modeling of heat transfer and water vapor transfer and frosting within a fiberglass filled cavity during air infiltration

Heat and water vapor transfer within a fiberglass insulation filled cavity (135mmx600mm) is investigated numerically and experimentally during air infiltration. A forced, two-dimensional cold and dry air flow is introduced from the cold side to warm side through the fiberglass insulation. The initial condition for the fiberglass insulation is the insulation first experienced a period of air exfiltration in which moist and warm air flow flowed from the warm to the cold side. This is followed by air infiltration where cold dry air flows from the cold to the warm side. The heat and mass transfer with frosting effects within the porous insulation are modeled for two-dimensional air flow with transient heat and moisture transfer. This model is validated using data for temperature and moisture distribution and heat flux on the cold and warm sides.