Formation Rate and Energy Efficiency of Ice Plug in Pipelines Driven by the Cascade Utilization of Cold Energy

Minglei Hu, Wei Zhang, Ke Xu, Zijiang Yang, Liqun Wang, Yongqiang Feng and Hao Chen ()
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Minglei Hu: China Nuclear Power Operation Management Co., Ltd., Haiyan 314300, China
Wei Zhang: China Nuclear Power Operation Management Co., Ltd., Haiyan 314300, China
Ke Xu: China Nuclear Power Operation Management Co., Ltd., Haiyan 314300, China
Zijiang Yang: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Liqun Wang: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Yongqiang Feng: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Hao Chen: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Ice plug technology is an effective method for isolating the pipeline system, which are promising methods utilized in the nuclear, chemical, and power industries. To reduce the cold energy consumption and temperature stress, the multi-stage (1–10) of time-dependent thermal boundary conditions was proposed for the formation of ice plug, while the gradient cooling wall temperature of multi-stage was applied. A numerical model considering the liquid–solid phase change, heat transfer, and time-dependent thermal boundary condition has been established. The effects of the ratio of length and diameter of the cooling wall l c / d (1–9) on the formation rate and heat flux of ice plug in the pipe has been investigated. The fastest formation rate of ice plug with 800 mm in the axial direction (7.47 cm 3 /s) was observed in the pipe with the l c / d of 5. The formation rate of ice plug and the ice formation volume under unit energy consumption VE under various stages (1–10) of cooling wall temperature have been compared. The VE of eight temperature stages (1.45 cm 3 /kJ) was 1.16 times than the VE of one temperature stage, which satisfied the freezing rate at the same time. This investigation provides insight for proposing an energy-saving system for the formation of ice plug.

Keywords: ice plug; formation rate; multi-stage thermal boundary condition; cold energy consumption; cooling wall temperature (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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