Transient freezing of liquids in forced flow inside convectively cooled tubes

The aim of this investigation is to study the characteristics of solidification of a liquid flowing through a convectively cooled pipe under different flow situations. A mathematical model is developed by establishing an energy balance. The amount of heat transferred from the liquid layer to the freeze-front in a tube section is directly proportional to the convective heat transfer coefficient and the difference between the average temperature of the fluid at the section and the freezing point. The limiting conditions for the commencement of the solidification process are stated. The formulated set of conjugated heat transfer equations is analysed for both laminar and turbulent flows. The governing equations are solved numerically for a specific range of parameters and their characteristics of the process discussed.