Aggregation of small ice crystals in an electric field |
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| Authors: | Phuoc Dinh‐Van Luan Phan‐Cong |
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| Institution: | Centre de Recherche du Moyen Nord , Université du Québec à , Chicoutimi , P.Q. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Small ice crystals with average diameter of about 30 μm are produced in a large cold room and allowed to fall in a settling chamber in the presence of a quasi‐uniform electric field. Aggregates (flakes) of ice crystals are collected by permanent replicas. Results show that an electric field above a threshold value of about 4 × 104 V m‐1 rapidly increases the growth of flakes by the capture of small ice crystals. The influence of the electric field upon the growth of ice aggregates is maximum at a field strength of about 1.5 × 105 V m‐1. Comparison of the results with Jiusto's mathematical model of the growth rate gives values of the collection efficiency at different field strengths. It is very likely that the electric field increases the adhesion (aggregation) efficiency rather than the collision (cross‐section) efficiency. |
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