Ice Generation and the Heat and Mass Transfer Phenomena of Introducing Water to a Cold Bath of Brine

Summary

Here, we present a protocol to demonstrate the generation of ice when water is introduced to a cold bath of brine, as a secondary refrigerant, at a range of temperatures well below the freezing point of water. It can be used as an alternative way of producing ice for industry.

Abstract

We demonstrate a method for the study of the heat and mass transfer and of the freezing phenomena in a subcooled brine environment. Our experiment showed that, under the proper conditions, ice can be produced when water is introduced to a bath of cold brine. To make ice form, in addition to having the brine and water mix, the rate of heat transfer must bypass that of mass transfer. When water is introduced in the form of tiny droplets to the brine surface, the mode of heat and mass transfer is by diffusion. The buoyancy stops water from mixing with the brine underneath, but as the ice grows thicker, it slows down the rate of heat transfer, making ice more difficult to grow as a result. When water is introduced inside the brine in the form of a flow, a number of factors are found to influence how much ice can form. Brine temperature and concentration, which are the driving forces of heat and mass transfer, respectively, can affect the water-to-ice conversion ratio; lower bath temperatures and brine concentrations encourage more ice to form. The flow rheology, which can directly affect both the heat and mass transfer coefficients, is also a key factor. In addition, the flow rheology changes the area of contact of the flow with the bulk fluid.

Introduction

Ice slurries are extensively used in industry, and one particularly successful application is the ice-pigging technology^1,2. In comparison to the conventional foam and solid pig, the ice pig can travel through complex topologies over a long distance because of the lubrication effect of the liquid phase and the elevation of its freezing point as some of the ice crystals melt^3,4,5. Even if the pig gets stuck, one can simply wait for the ice slurries to melt and resume the cleaning process later. This method of pipe clea....

Protocol

Caution: There are two poisonous chemicals, methanol and ethylene glycol, used in these experiments. Methanol can be metabolized in the human body to generate formaldehyde and then to formic acid or formate salt. These substances are poisonous to the central nervous system and may even cause death. Ethylene glycol can be oxidized to glycolic acid, which can then turn into oxalic acid. This can cause kidney failure and death. Do not drink these chemicals. Consult a doctor immediately if an accident occurs.

1. The Cooling System

NOTE: It is very difficult to keep the brine at -18 °C or so when the ambient temperature....

Results

Figure 1 compares the effects of water introduced at the brine surface to water injected through the brine. In the "ice-cap" scenario, the formed ice is solid because the water did not mix much with the bulk fluid. The temperature and density difference between the two fluids generates buoyancy force on the water and prevents them from mixing. Both fluids are static (i.e., the heat transfer is much greater than that of the mass; Sc ≈ 500, Pr ≈ 10, and Le ≈ 50), s.......

Discussion

The process of ice generation using brine as a secondary refrigerant involves the combination of heat and mass transfer. If the heat transfer is greater, then ice forms before the water has the chance to mix with the bulk fluid. It was observed that when there is a relative movement between the introduced water and the quiescent bulk brine (i.e., injecting water within the brine), the flow helps the heat transfer and encourages ice to form rapidly. However, when there is too much turbulence in the flow, no ice c.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
DMA 4500 M	Anton Paar	81546022	Density Metre
GELATO Chef 2200	magimix	0036500504R13	Ice Cream Maker
280D	FREEZE MASTER	241-1441	Pipe Freezer
M17.5X2	BLUE ICE MACHINES	GK924	Slushy Puppy Machine
HH68K	OMEGA	140045	Thermometer
OHAUS	TS4KW	1324	Scale
ZFC321WA/BNI225	ZANUSSI	920672574-00	Freezer
EIS Heater Matrix	Vauxhall	214720041	Heat Exchanger
2500LPH	JBA	AP-2500	Pump
Glass syringe	FORTUNA Optima		100 mL
OAT concentrated coolant	wilko	P30409014	Ethylene Glycol
pure dried vacuum salt	INEOS Enterprise	1433324	NaCl Salt
Methylated Spirits	Barrettine	1170	Methanol