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Ice-slurry production in a tubular heat exchanger: a new concept.

Author(s) : LE BAIL A., FAUCHEUX M., HAVET M.

Summary

One of the challenges of ice slurry generation using a heat exchanger is to overcome the risk of choking. The nucleation usually appears after a supercooling state that remains a key aspect of this technology. In order to focus on this crucial problem, the crystallization of a water ethanol solution was studied in a transparent tubular heat exchanger. Our experiments consisted in cooling the solution until ice slurry formation. Flow visualization permitted mainly to determine the conditions of crystallization according to the flow rate. A limited range of flow rate permitted to obtain the desired ice slurry quality. The heterogeneous crystallization appeared on the wall and dendrites began to develop before being carried away by the solution. Experiments also indicated dendrite growth from the freezing front upstream in the counter flow direction. The velocity of this retropropagation phenomenon was estimated using an image analysis tool. Temperature measurements also provided important information on this retro-propagation. Selected process parameters have to be properly adjusted (flow rate, wall properties). A new concept based on a simple tubular heat exchanger has been patented by the CNRS in selected European countries and an extension is done in USA and Japan on ice slurry generation (Le Bail, 2004). Specific spatial distribution of the internal roughness of the tube makes it possible to retard ice formation (low roughness in the up stream region) and then to initiate ice crystallization in the downstream region (greater roughness).

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Pages: 2010-5

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Details

  • Original title: Ice-slurry production in a tubular heat exchanger: a new concept.
  • Record ID : 2010-1490
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 9th Conference on Phase-Change Materials and Slurries for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. Proceedings: Sofia, Bulgaria, September 29-October 1, 2010.
  • Publication date: 2010/09/01

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