Session: 5.1.1 - Advanced thermal-flow diagnostic techniques - I

Paper Number: 158642

158642 - Development of a Novel Freezing-Levitation System for Producing Supercooled Droplet With Precise Control of Supercooling Degrees 

Abstract: 

Supercooled droplets are a significant research focus, especially in atmospheric science, cryopreservation, and aviation safety. Their behavior, particularly regarding impact and freezing, is crucial for comprehending icing phenomena that present considerable risks in aviation by influencing the aerodynamic performance of aircraft wings. These droplets contribute to industrial processes, including refrigeration and materials science. Despite extensive research, a thorough understanding of the dynamics of supercooled droplets, particularly their thermal and phase transition properties, still needs to be improved. This research presents an experimental framework integrating acoustic levitation, infrared thermography, and high-speed imaging to examine supercooled droplets within a subfreezing setting. To avoid the complexity of generating supercooled droplets, our approach simplifies the process by utilizing a commercially available freezer and acoustic levitator, creating an experimental environment that mimics real-world scenarios. The acoustic levitator featuring dual ultrasonic transducer arrays and parabolic end caps positioned approximately 5 cm apart suspends droplets within a -20°C freezer. This levitation system effectively isolates droplets for precise characterization. A real-time temperature measurement with an infrared (IR) thermal camera, capturing the temporal evolution of droplet temperature throughout the supercooling process. High-speed imaging is utilized to document phase transition dynamics, encompassing nucleation and freezing phenomena. Mathematical analysis simulates heat transfer dynamics, complements the experimental observations, and validates the results obtained through thermal imaging and high-speed analysis. This study offers to explore further the effects of droplet size and composition on supercooling behavior with insights into the interactions among thermal, dynamic, and compositional factors during supercooling and phase transitions. This integrative approach that combines experimental and theoretical methods enhances the understanding of supercooled droplet phenomena. The findings hold substantial implications for developing anti-icing and de-icing technologies, enhancements in cryopreservation methods, and advancements in understanding thermal fluid dynamics.

Presenting Author: Md Sohaib Bin Sarvar City College of New York

Presenting Author Biography: