Abstract
Melting process in packed beds of ice particles (with 0.2mm mean diameter) which were formed from supercooling ethylene glycol aqueous solution (2wt%) was investigated experimentally and numerically. The packed beds had the circular passage of 38mm diameter at first. The ethylene glycol aqueous solution was sprayed on water layer above the beds. The solution flowed downward in the passage and melted ice at the surface of the passage. The temperature of the solution at the outlet of the passage and the shape of the passage were measured as a function of time for different flow rates (2.0L/min and 3.0L/min). The time average value of local heat transfer coefficient was estimated. From the experiment, it was found that the local heat transfer coefficient had a maximum at upside of circular passage. Comparison between the experimental and numerical results indicated that actual area of heat transfer surface is about ten times larger than the surface area of the smooth passage because of the increase in the contact surface between the solution and ice particles.
