AXIAL CONDUCTION IN THE TRANSIENT LAMINAR FREEZING OF LIQUIDS IN CONVECTIVELY COOLED TUBES

Abstract

The transient laminar flow freezing of a liquid in a convectively cooled tube is studied by the finite element method. Liquid enters the tube at a uniform temperature higher than the freezing temperature. It cools down to its freezing temperature in the cooling zone, 0 ≤ Z ≤ Z_f, and then freezes on the inner wall of the tube in the freezing zone, Z ≥ Z_f It was found that Z_f was a decreasing function of time, which finally approached its steady state value. Axial conduction, generally, leads to a thinner solid layer and a longer cooling zone, relative to the case of no axial conduction.