Collaborative Research: Ice Melting Induced by Flows in an Adjacent Immiscible Liquid Layer

由泄漏污染导致的冰的恶化是一个复杂的过程，人们对此还没有很好的了解。该研究项目将研究对流流动和熔化层膜对与加热的油接触的冰壁融化动力学的影响。在北极地区发生漏油事件期间，当油层吸收来自太阳的热量或来自火焰的热量(如果石油正在燃烧)时，就会遇到这种情况。吸热会导致不同的融化模式，并在冰墙内雕刻出横向空洞。在大范围内，这一过程可能会导致漂浮冰块的结构和地质发生变化，从而以意想不到的方式影响北极生态系统。这项研究项目将通过一系列实验来解决这一知识鸿沟，这些实验使用成像和跟踪方法来分析冰川融化过程。项目研究人员还将在伍斯特理工学院为三年级和四年级学生创造基于项目的学习机会，并在圣母大学开设一门新的研究生课程。该研究项目调查不相容液体与冰相互作用的基础科学。以前关于海冰融化的研究考虑了水中的盐度和自然对流等参数，以了解融化的流体动力学和热传递方面。然而，由于石油的特性在很大程度上影响了热传递路径，因此油层融冰的情况有很大的不同。例如，油层与水的不混溶和气相的存在会产生界面力，从而改变流体的流动和换热动力学。在现有浮力流动的基础上增加界面作用力，在液体层中产生的对流模式将产生独特的流动模式，从而影响冰川的融化。因此，为了预测油冰相互作用和融化速度，需要对油层中的流体流动和换热路径进行科学的了解。通过将发光成像技术与粒子跟踪测速技术相结合的新应用，将能够识别控制对流流动的机制。这些实验方法将提供有关流体传输和温度的时空信息。从这项研究中获得的知识将是开发解决融化现象的数值模型的关键。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The deterioration of ice by spill contamination is a complex process that is not well understood. This research project will study the effects of convective flow and melt layer film on the melting dynamics of an ice wall in contact with a heated oil. Such situations would be encountered during an oil spill event in the Arctic regions when the oil layer absorbs heat from the Sun or from flames if the oil is burning. The heat absorption will cause different melt patterns and carve out lateral cavities inside the ice wall. At a large scale, this process can cause a shift in the structure and geology of floating ice blocks and thereby impact the Arctic ecosystem in unanticipated ways. This research project will address this knowledge gap through a series of experiments that use imaging and tracking methods to analyze the ice melting process. The project researchers will also create project-based learning opportunities for juniors and seniors at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a new graduate-level course at the University of Notre Dame.The research project investigates the fundamental science underlying the interaction of an immiscible liquid with ice. Previous studies on the melting of sea ice have considered parameters such as salinity and natural convection in the water to understand the fluid dynamics and heat transfer aspects of melting. However, ice melting by an oil layer is significantly different because of the characteristics of oil that influence the heat transfer pathways substantially. For example, the immiscibility of oil layer with water and presence of the gas-phase brings about interfacial forces that change the fluid flow and heat transfer dynamics. The induced convective patterns in the liquid layer by addition of interfacial forces to the existing buoyancy flows will cause unique flow patterns that impact the ice melting. Therefore, the scientific understanding of fluid flow and heat transfer pathways in the oil layer is required to predict oil-ice interaction and melting rates. Identification of the controlling mechanisms governing the convective flows will be achieved through the novel use of luminescence imaging techniques combined with particle tracking velocimetry. These experimental approaches will give spatiotemporal information on fluid transport and temperature. The knowledge obtained from this study will be pivotal in developing numerical models that address melting phenomena.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.