Numerical Simulation of Ice Slurry Flow in improved Plate Heat Exchanger Geometries with Consideration of different Phase Interaction Parameters

Concerning the cold supply, ice slurry technology is a safe, environmentally friendly and efficient solution for energy storage. Previous studies have shown that ice slurry is potentially one of the most important phase change material (PCM) slurries used as a secondary refrigerant due to its high cooling capacity and flexibility in application. However, agglomeration phenomena are observed with ice particle slurry flows, which can lead to blocking of e.g. heat exchangers and pipes. The study applies an Euler-Euler approach based on the kinetic theory of granular flow to describe the melting of an ice slurry flow. The Eulerian model was used to simulate the ice slurry in new channel structures of specially manufactured plate heat exchangers. The mass flow rate, ice concentration, and industrial ice particle sizes were varied. The validation with experimental data is presented. The results show the pressure drop and agglomeration reduction with the new channel design relative to commercially available geometries of the plate heat exchanger. The simulation results show the velocity profiles, the volume fraction, and the pressure loss related to the ice concentration. The simulation results of improved heat exchanger plates to avoid high volume fractions at the inlet and outlet as well as the channels of specially designed plate heat exchanger are displayed. The results show the effect of changing the phase interaction parameter at high velocity