Ice Formation Research Articles

Design and Analysis of a Direct Current–Based Ice Melting System for an Overhead Contact System in Electrified Railways

In recent years, extremely low-temperature weather conditions have resulted in the formation of ice on the contact network of electrified railways, significantly affecting the security of these systems. To address the issue of icing on the overhead contact system, this paper proposes a direct current–based ice melting system. This paper outlines the topological structure of the contact network ice melting system and examines its operational principles. A finite element model was established to investigate the characteristics of the ice melting process on the contact line, and a quantitative analysis was conducted to assess the impact of four critical variables: temperature, ice thickness, direct current, and conductor configuration. Ultimately, a simulation model of the contact line ice melting system for the traction power supply system was developed, and the output/input characteristics of the ice melting system were analyzed to validate its feasibility.

A review of photothermal and superhydrophobic polymer nanocomposites as anti‐icing nanocoatings

AbstractFreezing and ice formation at low temperatures have always caused numerous challenges in variant crafts such as aeronautical, transportation, power lines, oil platforms, etc. Anti‐icing and de‐icing approaches have been employed to reduce the contrary results of icing on surfaces. Due to the disadvantages of de‐icing methods, anti‐icing techniques are noteworthy, and extensive research has been done in this field. Anti‐icing techniques have been used to prevent ice accumulation or simplify separating once the ice has formed. Superhydrophobicity has the property that can neglect to ice or delay icing on the surface. Nowadays, nanocomposites, one of the most extremely used advanced substances, are used in various industries and usages. In the meantime, polymer nanocomposites as a nanocoating offer innovative solutions for the icing phenomenon by bridging the areas of polymer composite technology, nanoscience, and superhydrophobicity. Additionally, photothermal polymer nanocomposites are based on conventional superhydrophobic materials with high solar absorption rates and have unique anti‐icing properties. In this review, the types of ice were examined in terms of their appearance, formation order, and crystal structure. Also, various theories of wettability and freezing mechanisms were studied. Moreover, various methods of making surface superhydrophobic such as top‐down, and bottom‐top procedures were mentioned. Finally, superhydrophobic and photothermal polymer nanocomposite coatings were explained in‐depth.Highlights Types of ice and its structure were investigated. Kinds of wettability theories and freezing mechanisms were studied. Methods of ice formation prevention were summarized. Superhydrophobic and photothermal polymer nanocomposites were explained.

A study on the role of sea ice in the nitrous oxide cycle in the Prydz Bay, Antarctica

N2O is one of the most important greenhouse gases and ozone depletor, which was a matter of more and more concerned. The Southern Ocean was considered as one of the most important N2O source and was believed to account for ~1/4 of oceanic budget. However, there is uncertainty about this budget due to limited data availability. In this study, field and lab works were conducted for better understanding of N2O dynamics during sea ice melting and sea ice formation. In the field study, taking advantage of the Chinese Antarctic cruise, a 10 days’ time series study was carried out at a station in the Prydz Bay, Antarctica, where, surface water N2O was observed continuously, and the adjacent ice cores were taken for N2O analysis. In the lab, an ice growing simulation system was constructed to study the N2O dynamics during the sea ice formation. The result of endmember mixing models and calculation of N2O partition in three phases during sea ice formation provide important information about the dynamics of N2O during ice melting and sea ice formation processes, that is, the sea ice melting regulated N2O concentration and saturation status, which can be an explanation for reported N2O undersaturation observed in polar oceans, whereas during the sea ice formation, most of the N2O will be expelled to the deeper water while a small amount of retain the sea ice and less amount of N2O release to the atmosphere.

Influence of Ice Growth Mode on the Ice Thickness and Shape Prediction of Two-Dimensional Airfoil

Computational results of aircraft icing and predictions of ice shape are not only determined by the solutions of air-supercooled droplet two-phase flow and icing thermodynamic models of surface water film, but are also influenced by the growth mode of the ice layer. Two ice growth modes were established in a two-dimensional (2D) icing process simulation framework to calculate the ice thickness and ice shape, depending on whether surface deformation of the icing process was considered. Ice accretion simulations were performed with the two ice growth modes for an NACA0012 airfoil under rime ice and mixed ice conditions, and the results of ice amount, ice thickness, and ice shape were compared and analyzed. Under the same amount of ice formation, the ice thickness and ice shape obtained using different ice growth modes vary. The ice thickness and the ice shape size are relatively large without considering surface deformation, whereas the results with growth correction show a certain degree of reduction, which is more noticeable around the leading edge and the ice horns. However, the degrees of difference in ice thickness and ice shape are not the same, and the deviation in ice thickness is more obvious. Furthermore, the ice thickness and ice shape obtained using the ice growth correction mode are more consistent with experimental data and commercial software results, verifying the accuracy of the ice simulation method and the necessity of considering ice surface deformation. This paper is an essential guide for understanding the icing mechanism and accurately predicting two-dimensional ice shape.

Pavement Materials for Adapting Climate Change

Pavement materials that minimize water infiltration are essential in addressing performance issues caused by temperature and moisture fluctuations, which often lead to cracking, rutting and other forms of degradation. To combat these challenges, innovative materials and climate-responsive pavement designs have been developed, incorporating recycling methods and region-specific mix designs to withstand climatic stresses and reduce maintenance costs. Porous pavements are particularly effective in managing climate-related challenges. Engineered to allow water infiltration, they reduce surface runoff, mitigate urban flooding and enhance road safety. In high-rainfall areas, their permeable structure lowers risks such as hydroplaning and surface water accumulation. In colder regions, they minimize freeze-thaw damage by facilitating water drainage which helps prevent ice formation and reduces pavement cracking. The inclusion of polymers and fibers in these materials enhances their strength, durability and lifespan. Additionally, porous pavements contribute to urban cooling through evaporative processes, mitigating the urban heat island effect. They also support groundwater recharge, aligning with sustainable water management practices. By decreasing maintenance needs and environmental impact, porous pavements play a vital role in creating climate-resilient infrastructure that promotes urban safety and sustainability while conserving resources.

Ice nucleating ability of mineral particles from subtropical South American deserts

Mineral aerosols are one of the most important ice nucleating particles (INPs) because their efficiency in nucleating ice, wide transport and largest mass contribution to particulate matter in the atmosphere. They are sourced from the arid regions of the world. In this context, this work evaluates the INP potential of fourteen topsoil samples collected from subtropical South American deserts, the major source of mineral aerosols in South America, in the immersion freezing mode. Samples were obtained from three distinct regions located in the South American Arid Diagonal and recognized as potential dust source areas: the Puna-Altiplano Plateau in the north, the central-west of Argentina, and Patagonia in the south. In general, results reveal that samples from the Puna-Altiplano and Patagonia regions, and the central-west of Argentina region exhibit the highest and lowest INP abilities, respectively. The active sites per unit surface area for a given temperature were calculated and compared with previously reported values. The results demonstrate that soil mineral particles from the region of study exhibit ice nucleating abilities comparable to the inorganic fraction of agricultural soils of central Argentina. No direct relationship was identified between INP ability and the major minerals observed in the samples. This study is the first to analyze the ice nucleation properties of soil samples collected along the South American Arid Diagonal and one of the few in South America. Since the analyzed topsoil particles were collected from potential dust source regions, this work contributes to understanding the role of aerosols in initiating atmospheric ice formation, providing valuable data for empirical parameterizations. This could contribute to the improvement in the performance of climate models, as the obtained results suggest that the underestimation of coarse and super-coarse aerosols at altitudes relevant for cloud formation may lead to underestimations in INP concentrations, particularly in regions near to the emission sources.

Narrative review on tissue and organ cryopreservation research related to regenerative medicine: from early attempts to future possibilities

The development of organ transplantation and cryopreservation has transformed modern transplantation and regenerative medicine. This review explores these interlinked fields, focusing on their convergence and mutual influence on modern transplant practices. Initially evolving independently, organ transplantation and cryobiology have advanced in tandem, with each field’s breakthroughs shaping the other. While organ transplantation has made remarkable strides, it remains constrained by the limited availability and preservation of viable organs. Cryopreservation offers a solution, enabling longer-term storage and broader access to organs for transplantation. This review traces the history of organ transplantation, emphasizing milestones that have improved recipient outcomes. It also examines cryopreservation techniques, such as directional freezing and vitrification, which show promise for maintaining tissues and organs over extended periods. However, challenges remain, particularly for preserving large, complex organs. Issues such as ice formation, cellular damage, and rewarming must be addressed to enhance the viability of cryopreserved organs. Key research barriers include the development of non-toxic cryoprotectants, advanced cryogenic equipment for precise temperature control, and anti-rejection therapies. By addressing these challenges, cryopreservation can help tackle critical organ shortages, enabling sustainable and flexible organ banks that improve access to life-saving transplants. The integration of regenerative medicine with cryopreservation could revolutionize transplantation, fostering personalized approaches and improving clinical outcomes. This review underscores the transformative potential of cryopreservation to create reliable organ banks, advance regenerative medicine, and save lives globally.

HSP70 is upregulated after heat but not freezing stress in the freeze-tolerant cricket Gryllus veletis.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are well known to prevent and repair protein damage caused by various abiotic stressors, but their role in low temperature and freezing stress is not well-characterized in insects compared to other thermal challenges such as heat stress. Ice formation in and around cells is hypothesized to cause protein damage, yet many species of insects can survive freezing, suggesting HSPs may be an important mechanism in freeze tolerance. Here, we studied HSP70 in a freeze-tolerant cricket Gryllus veletis to better understand the role of HSPs in this phenomenon. We measured expression of one heat-inducible HSP70 isoform at the mRNA level (using RT-qPCR), as well as the relative abundance of total HSP70 protein (using semi-quantitative Western blotting), in five tissues from crickets exposed to a survivable heat treatment (2h at 40°C), a 6-week fall-like acclimation that induces freeze tolerance, and a survivable freezing treatment (1.5h at -8°C). While HSP70 expression was upregulated by heat at the mRNA or protein level in all tissues studied (fat body, Malphigian tubules, midgut, femur muscle, nervous system ganglia), no tissue exhibited HSP70 upregulation within 2-24h following a survivable freezing stress. During fall-like acclimation to mild low temperatures, we only saw moderate upregulation of HSP70 at the protein level in muscle, and at the RNA level in fat body and nervous tissue. Although HSP70 is important for responding to a wide range of stressors, our work suggests that this chaperone may be less critical in the preparation for, and response to, moderate freezing stress.

Review on Icephobicity of Materials Surface Enhanced by Interface Action Force

AbstractIn response to the hazards of icing in the energy, transportation, and aerospace sectors, extensive research has been conducted on anti‐icing materials based on the solid‐liquid/ice interface theory, as well as reliable chemical and electro‐thermal de‐icing systems. However, there is an urgent need for modernizing anti‐icing systems to address diverse application scenarios. Gaining insights into the influence of interface action forces on water droplet behavior can proactively prevent detrimental icing occurrences. Nevertheless, under severe conditions where ice formation is inevitable, leveraging interface action forces to induce cracking and expansion of ice facilitates its rapid detachment despite potential challenges associated with complete removal. A comprehensive review elucidating the mechanisms through which interface action forces impact water/ice formations encompasses various approaches toward designing mechanically‐driven de‐icing systems.

Cryopreservation of Immune Cells: Recent Progress and Challenges Ahead.

Cryopreservation of immune cells is considered as a key enabling technology for adoptive cellular immunotherapy. However, current immune cell cryopreservation technologies face the challenges with poor biocompatibility of cryoprotection materials, low efficiency, and impaired post-thaw function, limiting their clinical translation. This review briefly introduces the adoptive cellular immunotherapy and the approved immune cell-based products, which involve T cells, natural killer cells and etc. The cryodamage mechanisms to these immune cells during cryopreservation process are described, including ice formation related mechanical and osmotic injuries, cryoprotectant induced toxic injuries, and other biochemical injuries. Meanwhile, the recent advances in the cryopreservation medium and freeze-thaw protocol for several representative immune cell type are summarized. Furthermore, the remaining challenges regarding on the cryoprotection materials, freeze-thaw protocol, and post-thaw functionality evaluation of current cryopreservation technologies are discussed. Finally, the future perspectives are proposed toward advancing highly efficient cryopreservation of immune cells.

Estimation method for dry ice formation under triple point through tank depressurization

Estimation method for dry ice formation under triple point through tank depressurization

On the Dependence of Ice Formation Process in Lake Ladoga on Air Temperature

On the Dependence of Ice Formation Process in Lake Ladoga on Air Temperature

Epigenetic Regulation by Histone Methylation and Demethylation in Freeze-Tolerant Frog Kidney.

The wood frog (Rana sylvatica) endures whole-body freezing over the winter, with extensive extracellular ice formation and halted physiological activities. Epigenetic mechanisms, including reversible histone lysine methylation, enable quick alterations in gene expression, helping to maintain viability during freeze-thaw cycles. The present study evaluated eight histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs), 10 histone lysine demethylases (KDMs), and 11 histone marks in wood frog kidneys. Using immunoblotting, significant changes in relative protein levels of multiple KMTs and KDMs were observed in response to freezing, with variable alterations during thawing. Specifically, the repressive methyl marks H3K27me1 and H4K20me3 significantly decreased during freezing, whereas H3K9me3, H3K27me3, and H3K36me2 decreased during thawing. These results demonstrate that the regulation of histone methylation and demethylation play crucial roles in controlling gene expression over the freeze-thaw cycle and the maintenance of normal renal physiology.

Enhancing anti-icing efficacy in hybrid polyurethane coatings: Evaluating the significance of molecular weight, chemical structure, and content of PEG/PDMS

This study investigates the advantages of adding polydimethyl siloxane/polyethylene glycol (PEG/PDMS) copolymers to polyurethane coatings, with a particular focus on optimizing anti-icing efficacy. A range of characterization techniques are applied, including attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, surface roughness measurements, wettability analysis, tensile testing, and ice adhesion measurements, to elucidate the intricate relationships between copolymer molecular weight, chemical structure, and content and their collective effect on the anti-icing properties of the developed coatings. Tailored PEG/PDMS copolymers significantly reduce ice nucleation temperatures and enhance the anti-icing properties of polyurethane coatings. Adding PEG/PDMS copolymers to polyurethane alters the surface roughness, wettability, and mechanical properties of the coatings to improve anti-icing performance. The presence of copolymers decreases ice adhesion strength (<50 kPa), attributed to the formation of a quasi-liquid layer that acts as a lubricant between the ice and the coatings, and delays ice formation. Furthermore, the enhanced durability of copolymer-containing coatings ensures a long-lasting anti-icing effect after multiple icing/de-icing cycles, although some degradation was observed over time. The tailored PEG/PDMS copolymers demonstrate potential for maximizing the anti-icing properties of polyurethane coatings and advancing anti-icing technologies.

NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS AND SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF ICE FORMATION ON FAN BLADES

Abstract In-flight icing, the formation of ice during flight, poses risks to the safety and reliability of aircraft. Due to environmental conditions, ice accumulation occurs on the low-pressure compressor blades of an engine, diminishing aerodynamic performance and potentially causing damage to the engine. Numerical simulations of ice accretion are conducted on the blades of the NASA Rotor 67 utilizing the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software ANSYS CFX and the in-flight icing software FENSAP-ICE. One-dimensional and two-dimensional sensitivity studies aim to analyze the influences of temperature, droplet diameter and liquid water content (LWC) on the resulting ice build-up on the blade. The analyses reveal that ice accumulates predominantly at the leading edge of the blade, where collection efficiency is maximal. Additionally, an ice layer forms at the blade root on the pressure side. While LWC and temperature exerts a significant influence on the ice mass, only a marginal impact on droplet diameter is observed.

Signatures of Spinon Dynamics and Phase Structure of Dipolar-Octupolar Quantum Spin Ices in Two-Dimensional Coherent Spectroscopy.

We study how sharp signatures of fractionalization emerge in nonlinear spectroscopy experiments on spin liquids with separated energy scales. Our model is that of dipolar-octupolar rare earth pyrochlore materials, prime candidates for realizing quantum spin ice. This family of three-dimensional quantum spin liquids exhibits fractionalization of spin degrees of freedom into spinons charged under an emergent U(1) gauge field. We show that the technique of two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy can identify clear signatures of fractionalized spinon dynamics in dipolar-octupolar quantum spin ices. However, at intermediate temperatures, spinon dynamics are heavily constrained in the presence of an incoherent spin background, leading to a broad two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy response. At lower temperatures, a sharp signal emerges as the system enters a coherent spin liquid state. This lower temperature signal can in turn distinguish between zero-flux and π-flux forms of quantum spin ice.

Immersion frozen storage combined with silver carp muscle hydrolysate: Effects on freshness, protein properties and microstructure of cryopreserved grass carp

This study highlighted the combined effects of immersion frozen storage (IFS) and silver carp muscle hydrolysate (SCMH) on the quality of cryopreserved grass carp. The fish fillets were pretreated with SCMH and stored at −18 °C using an indirect IFS method (SCMH + IFS), which offered rapid freezing and reduced temperature fluctuations (±0.4 °C), and changes in freshness, protein properties and muscle structure were evaluated over a 60-day storage period. Compared to IFS alone or traditional air frozen storage (AFS), samples treated with SCMH + IFS showed lower increases in K value (from 10.4% to 33.9%), TVB-N (from 7.3 mg/100g to 15.1 mg/100g), as well as retarded changes in the solubility, Ca2+-ATPase activity, surface hydrophobicity, and sulfhydryl content of myofibrillar protein. Furthermore, the ice formation and recrystallization as well as the physical damages to fish muscle myofibril structure were markedly mitigated in the SCMH + IFS samples. Therefore, SCMH + IFS was a promising approach for enhancing the quality of cryopreserved fish products.

Deep-supercooling preservation of stem cell spheroids for chondral defect repairment

Versatile mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play an important role in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. MSCs in 3D spheroid have shown higher secretion and differentiation functions than suspended counterparts, and, thus, invitro cryopreservation of MSC spheroids is an indispensable technology to bridge the spatiotemporal gaps between spheroid generation and application. Traditional cryopreservation methods are inapplicable for spheroid due to severe thermal stress, toxic cryoprotectants, and ice formation. Here, we constructed and preserved human MSC (hMSC) spheroids via deep supercooling (DSC). Spheroids were DSC preserved at -12°C without ice formation for 7days, with higher cell viability, energy level, and chondrogenic differentiation capacity than suspended hMSCs. hMSCs embedded in spheroids have close cell-cell interactions via N-cadherin to activate the AKT-cytochrome c-caspase anti-apoptotic cascade during DSC preservation. Finally, preserved hMSC spheroids were capable of chondrogenic differentiation and can be co-delivered with collagen to treat rat cartilage defects invivo.

Numerical Simulation Study on Predicting the Critical Icing Conditions of Aircraft Pitot Tubes.

Aircraft pitot tubes are sophisticated instruments designed to detect airflow pressure and relay this information to onboard computers and flight instruments, enabling the calculation of airspeed through the measurement of total-static pressure differences. The formation of ice on aircraft pitot tubes can compromise the acquisition of airspeed data, misguide pilots, and potentially cause catastrophic flight control failures. This article introduces a predictive methodology for identifying critical conditions that lead to icing on aircraft pitot tubes. Utilizing numerical simulation techniques, the methodology calculates the critical conditions for pitot tube icing across cruise flight regimes and atmospheric conditions, resulting in the generation of a critical condition envelope surface. By comparing these critical conditions against actual sensor data, a predictive danger zone can be established, offering an advanced warning system to ensure flight safety.

Distribution and Dynamics of Icings in the Selenga Middle Mountains

The paper presents the results of the study on icings in the Selenga middle mountains (Western Transbaikalia). Current and retrospective maps of their distribution have been drawn up, relevant data on the main morphometric characteristics, interannual spatial dynamics, and area variability have been obtained. Comparison of vector data on the location of the icings in different years, together with the materials obtained during field expedition studies, allowed us to preliminary assess their belonging to different genetic types. It has been established that in the Selenga Middle Mountains, the predominant icings are formed as a result of groundwater rise to the surface during the seasonal freezing of rocks. About 30% of the icings are associated with groundwater sources coming from deep aquifers (key icings), river water icings are very rare. The interannual variability of the size of icings is in sync with the hydration cycles, at the same time, there is a tendency for an increase in the total number of icings. At the same time, the number of very large icings has decreased 2 times as compared to 1990, while the number of medium and small icings has increased. These trends are a consequence of changes in the state of the natural environment under the influence of climatic processes (increase in air temperature) and anthropogenic factors, which influence on the intensity of the icing formation processes in the Selenga Middle Mountains is significant.