Author(s): Qin Wanru; Lu Jinshu; Nie Zaichao; Wang Penghao; Wu Wenfeng; Zhang Siyu
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: CFD-DEM; Air curtain; Oil containment; Ice floes
Abstract: The deployment of air barriers (air curtains) provides a non-contact engineering approach for oil spill containment in ice-infested waters; however, their hydrodynamic performance in such multi-phase environments requires systematic investigation. Addressing the complex multi-phase environment with brash ice, this study proposes and establishes a novel four-dimensional (spatiotemporal) CFD-DEM-VOF coupled model to investigate the containment dynamics of the four-phase oil–ice–water–air system. Simulations reveal that the rising bubble plume rapidly displaces surface ice floes to establish a clearance zone, which dictates the initial containment boundary. However, the surrounding ice floes impose significant interfacial resistance against the air barrier-induced surface current. Quantitative assessments demonstrate that as the initial ice intensity increases from 60% to 80%, this structural constraint causes a monotonic reduction in the effective containment distance. Crucially, under high ice intensities (e.g., 80%), the ice-blocking effect severely restricts the horizontal spreading of the oil slick, forcing pronounced longitudinal pooling. This localized accumulation substantially increases the maximum local thickness of the oil layer, thereby elevating the risk of drainage failure. These findings elucidate the complex fluid-structure interactions governing barrier efficacy and provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing the design and operational strategies of pneumatic spill-response equipment in polar waters.
Year: 2026