Heat transfer characteristics of ice solidification using a two-phase closed thermosyphon

Abstract

In this study, mathematical models are developed to study the ice solidification phenomenon with moving boundary for a gravity-assisted, two-phase closed thermosyphon. Both quasi-steady and transient models are presented. The quasi-steady model allows variation of evaporator and condenser areas for the analysis with Biot number and ambient temperature as parameters. In the transient model, the governing parabolic partial differential equation for the solidification process is solved using CrankNicolson finite difference technique. The solution is used to obtain the temperature distribution in ice, ice thickness and the motion of ice-water interface as a function of time. The predictions of growth of ice volume using the transient model show good agreement with available experimental data.