In the field of commercial refrigeration, frost formation in gelato display cabinets is a critical factor affecting product presentation and energy efficiency. For the GN series gelato display cabinet, its structural design and integrated refrigeration technologies effectively mitigate frost issues. Here’s a technical analysis of its anti-frost mechanisms:
Frost formation primarily stems from heat and mass exchange between moist air and low-temperature surfaces. When ambient air with high humidity infiltrates the cabinet, water vapor comes into contact with internal surfaces or gelato (maintained at -15℃ to -25℃) and undergoes supersaturation, leading to either direct deposition (sublimation into frost) or condensation-freezing (liquefaction followed by solidification into ice).
The GN series features a mortise-tenon joint structure between the glass cover and cabinet body, paired with EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) gaskets. This design achieves Class Ⅱ airtightness standards for commercial refrigeration equipment (air leakage rate ≤0.5 m³/(h·m)), significantly reducing the infiltration of external moist air. By minimizing the "moisture load" inside the cabinet, it fundamentally lowers the potential for frost formation.
The cabinet adopts a bottom return air + dual-side top supply air pattern, combined with a variable-diameter air duct design, creating a "piston flow" circulation of cold air. This airflow configuration offers two key advantages:
The evaporator employs a finned tube + hydrophilic aluminum foil structure. The hydrophilic coating allows condensed water to quickly coalesce into droplets and drain away, preventing frost formation on fin surfaces and maintaining low humidity in the cold air, further reducing frost risks.
The cabinet’s insulation layer uses polyurethane (PU) foam with a density of 45 kg/m³ and a thermal conductivity ≤0.024 W/(m·K), forming a high-resistance thermal barrier. This stabilizes the temperature difference (ΔT) between the inner and outer cabinet walls, avoiding "secondary condensation-frosting" caused by wall temperature fluctuations.
Additionally, the temperature control system integrates a PT100 platinum resistance sensor with a PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) algorithm, restricting temperature fluctuations to ±0.5℃. A stable low-temperature environment reduces "temperature-driven" water vapor phase changes (sudden temperature drops accelerate water vapor freezing), thermally suppressing frost formation.
Though not visually apparent, the GN series likely incorporates a timed electric heating defrost system. Heating elements attached to evaporator fins or critical low-temperature components activate preset defrost cycles (typically every 8–12 hours, lasting 10–15 minutes) to melt accumulated frost. This "preventive defrosting" works in tandem with the aforementioned structural designs, keeping frost at an "invisible" or "ultra-thin" state, reinforcing the perception of "low frost formation."
In summary, the GN series gelato display cabinet minimizes frost through a multi-dimensional integration of sealing, airflow, insulation, temperature control, and defrosting technologies. While absolute frost-free operation is physically challenging (due to inevitable moisture and low-temperature interactions), its design effectively controls frost to negligible levels, ensuring optimal gelato presentation and operational efficiency.