Phase Transformation and the Heat and Mass Transfer in the Ice, Water and Brine System

Abstract

This paper studies the interaction between the solid and liquid phase in a brine and ice system which can explain why ice can both be generated and melted in the same brine environment. Ice can be generated if the sweet water introduced to a bath of cold brine is carefully controlled but the generated ice will melt if the solid phase is not separated from the liquid phase, which is warmer than the freezing point of the brine environment. Experiments are conducted and the correlation between heat and mass transfer coefficient and brine temperature at various concentrations are found. At lower temperatures, the primary mode of heat and mass transfer is diffusion and convection starts to dominate the processes as temperature increases. In addition, higher brine concentration discourages heat and mass transfer. The temperature range studied in this paper is from the eutectic point of brine (–21.2 °C) to –4 °C and the brine concentrations are 18, 20 and 22 wt%.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Xiao Yun

Xiao Yun is a process engineer specializing in the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) recovery and management system development for the petrochemical industry. He received his PhD degree from the University of Bristol under the supervision of Professor Joe Quarini where he studied the efficient generation and storage of ice slurries. His research interests include, condensing and absorptive vapor recovery processes, adsorptive and membrane vapor separation technology as well as oxidizers, combustion and flare systems.

Sam Brooks

Sam Brooks is a PhD student and senior teaching associate in the Department of Mechanical engineering at the University of Bristol. His PhD is related to ice slurry generation methods with particular focus on using plastic materials to reduce ice adhesion. His research interests include thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, phase change materials and cooling system design.

Giuseppe L. Quarini

Joe Quarini is a professor of Process Engineering at the University of Bristol in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His research interests include the development and use of ice pigging to clean complex topologies. He has worked on the application of ice pigging for water and power utilities, nuclear industry, food manufacture, paint/coating sector and fine chemicals production industries.