Anti-icing performance by a submerged point-source bubbly flow – Part II: A modelling study

Bubbly flow anti-icing technology provides an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solution for polar navigation by using rising bubbles to transport warmer and deeper water to the ice-water interface, inhibiting freezing or ice growth. Due to challenges in fully replicating field conditions experimentally, this study develops a predictive model that comprehensively considers both water-side compressed air flow rate, nozzle submergence depth, water temperature, air-side ambient air temperature, and wind speed. Validated by experimental data, the model predicts ice height and mass with errors below 15%. The reference conditions for model analysis are compressed air flow rate of 0.5 L/min, submergence depth of 18 cm, water temperature of 1.0 °C, ambient air temperature of −45 °C, and wind speed of 25 m/s. Results indicate that increasing any water-side factors reduces ice height and mass at energy balance, though the reduction rate gradually diminishes. Raising water temperature from 0.5 °C to 2.0 °C reduces balanced height by 94.3 mm. The anti-icing ratio increases with all water-side factors, while the energy efficiency ratio decreases with a higher air flow rate but increases with greater submergence depth. Higher ambient air temperatures or smaller wind speeds also reduce the balanced ice height and mass and improve the anti-icing ratio. The study further clarifies the role of the water-side heat transfer coefficient and demonstrates that adjustable parameters like air flow rate and nozzle submergence depth can be tailored to meet specific anti-icing targets. This work offers guidance for optimizing bubbly flow anti-icing systems.