Author(s): S. Sarraf; X. T. Zhang; N. El-Jabi

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Keywords: No Keywords

Abstract: Rivers in Canada and elsewhere in Cold Regions are ice covered for a good part of the year. Under these conditions, heat transfer between the river flow and the atmosphere occurs simultaneously at the ice-air and ice-water interfaces of the ice cover. The heat flux from the water to the ice is the most dominant factor in the growth and decay processes of the river ice. A proper evaluation of the heat transfer coefficient at the ice-water interface is the key for an accurate computation of the heat flux and consequently in determining ice cover melting. A variable heat transfer coefficient for both the entry region as well as for the fully established flow region was derived. The new approach as well as other constant empirical equations used to evaluate the heat transfer coefficient were respectively used in a two-dimensional model to examine their effects on ice melting. Results of computations using the new approach were in a better overall agreement with experimental observations, including the leading edge region.

DOI:

Year: 1992