Numerical Modeling and Parametric Study of the Melting Behavior of Ice Crystal Particles

Abstract

Ice crystal icing has been identified as a risk to flight safety, due to its ability to reduce engine performance and its potential to cause engine damage and flameout. A critical factor in the sticking efficiency of ice crystals is the melting behavior of ice crystals. This paper presents an ice melting model integrated with surface blowing and porosity. A parametric study is performed to understand the effects of flow conditions (total pressure, humidity, total temperature, Mach number, and slip velocity) and particle properties (particle size, aspect ratio, and porosity factor) on ice melting behavior. The model is compared against the melting time of single ice particles in an acoustic levitator. The results show that employing sphericity and porosity could improve prediction performance. Surface blowing from evaporation increases melting time, and its effect is larger with a higher gas temperature. Ice melting time increases with pressure at high humidity, whereas an opposite trend is observed at low humidity. Increasing gas temperature, humidity, slip velocity, aspect ratio, and particle temperature can decrease ice melting time, whereas increasing Mach number, particle size, and porosity factor can increase ice melting time. Although wet bulb temperature can be used to evaluate ice melting potential when only one flow parameter is varied, it appears insufficient alone under scenarios where multiple flow parameters are changing simultaneously.