Mass transfer in frozen porous bodies

Abstract

The theory of moisture transport in frozen porous bodies under the action of temperature gradient along unfreezing communications represented by water in thin pores and in interlayers between the pore surface and the ice was elaborated. It was shown that most of the flow in the pores filled with water is directed toward a cold side and can be calculated using the disjoining pressure isotherms of unfreezing interlayers. To obtain isotherms, we used the data of previous measurements of the thickness of unfreezing interlayers in micron-sized quartz capillaries as a function of pressure and temperature. The viscosity of unfreezing interlayers in quartz capillaries was estimated based on the measurements of the displacement velocity of ice columns in the quartz capillaries. Calculated flow rates of unfreezing moisture were consistent with the experimental data for the model porous bodies and frozen grounds.