Author(s): Chuankang Pei; Yuntong She; Mark Loewen
Linked Author(s): Yuntong She, Mark R. Loewen
Keywords: Freshwater ice; Frazil ice; Frazil floc; Seed particle; Seeding rate
Abstract: Frazil ice particles form when tiny seed ice crystals enter supercooled turbulent water. These suspended particles may collide and freeze together, forming aggregates called frazil flocs. Airborne crystal seeding concentration has long been hypothesized to have significant impacts on frazil ice evolution but quantitative investigation remains limited. In this study, two laboratory experiments were conducted in a closed frazil ice tank under lower- and higher-seeding concentrations to investigate the effect of airborne seeding concentration on frazil particle and floc generation. Time-series images of frazil particles and flocs passing through cross-polarized filters were obtained to quantify the temporal evolution of particle sizes and concentrations during supercooling. Results show that the higher seeding concentration produced a higher initial particle number concentration which led to rapid latent heat release and faster water temperature recovery. At the lower seeding concentration, a longer cooling period and a lower peak supercooling temperature were observed, ultimately generating higher particle number concentrations and larger mean floc sizes compared to the higher seed concentration. These findings provide quantitative evidence of the impact of airborne seeding concentration on frazil ice particle and floc evolution.
Year: 2026