Ice crystal particle production system, method, and ice wind tunnel simulation system

Abstract

This invention relates to an ice crystal particle preparation system, method, and ice wind tunnel simulation system. The system includes a gas storage device, a water storage device, a mixer, an ultrasonic atomizer, a first ultrasonic jetting device, a second ultrasonic jetting device, an air cooling assembly, and a water cooling assembly. The air cooling assembly is installed within the gas storage device, and the first ultrasonic jetting device is located between the outlet of the gas storage device and the gas inlet of the mixer. The water cooling assembly is located between the outlet of the water storage device and the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer, and the outlet of the ultrasonic atomizer is connected to the water mist inlet of the mixer. The two-stage ice crystal preparation using the first and second ultrasonic jetting devices allows for sufficient crystallization of water droplets in the water mist. The system has a simple structure, low complexity in ice crystal preparation, and is easy to maintain.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to ice crystal particle preparation technology for icing wind tunnels, specifically to an ice crystal particle preparation system, method, and ice wind tunnel simulation system. Background Technology

[0002] After analyzing the causes of multiple flight accidents, researchers confirmed that in addition to supercooled water droplets, ice crystals can also cause engine icing. Icing caused by supercooled droplets mainly occurs in engine fairings, inlet support plates, and guide vanes. Ice crystal icing, on the other hand, primarily occurs in the low-pressure compressor and even the first few stages of the high-pressure compressor. This can lead to a loss of engine thrust, or even damage or render the entire engine unusable, seriously threatening flight safety. Currently, the most effective method for simulating ice crystal icing is using an icing wind tunnel. In icing wind tunnel experiments, the preparation of ice crystal particles is a crucial step. Currently, there are two main methods for ice crystal preparation: one is the shaving method, which involves crushing ice blocks to the desired size and then introducing them into the wind tunnel using pneumatic or mechanical methods; the other is the freezing method, which freezes small liquid water droplets in the wind tunnel to produce ice particles. The shaving method is considered the most suitable ice crystal manufacturing technology for icing wind tunnels. However, the ice-shaved method for producing ice crystal particles requires breaking the ice and sieving it to select ice crystal particles of the required size, which is inefficient and requires manual operation.

[0003] The above content is only used to help understand the technical solution of the present invention and does not represent an admission that the above content is prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide an ice crystal particle preparation system, method and ice wind tunnel simulation system, which has the characteristics of simple ice crystal particle preparation process and convenient maintenance.

[0005] In one aspect, an ice crystal particle preparation system is provided in one embodiment, including a gas storage device, a water storage device, a mixer, an ultrasonic atomizer, a first ultrasonic jetting device, a second ultrasonic jetting device, an air cooling assembly, and a water cooling assembly. The gas storage device is equipped with an air cooling component to cool the gas at the outlet of the gas storage device to a preset first temperature; the first supersonic jet device is provided between the outlet of the gas storage device and the gas inlet of the mixer. The water cooling component is provided between the outlet of the water storage device and the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer, so that the water at the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer is cooled to a preset second temperature. The outlet of the ultrasonic atomizer is connected to the water mist inlet of the mixer; The outlet of the mixer is connected to the ice tunnel via a second supersonic jet device.

[0006] In one embodiment, the mixer includes a primary mixer and a secondary mixer, with a connecting pipe between the bottoms of the primary mixer and the secondary mixer; the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting pipe is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the primary mixer and smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the secondary mixer.

[0007] In one embodiment, a refrigeration cycle system is further included, which is connected to the air cooling component and the water cooling component respectively to provide circulating refrigerant to the air cooling component and the water cooling component respectively.

[0008] In one embodiment, cooling the gas at the outlet of the gas storage device to a preset first temperature includes: This cools the gas at the outlet of the gas storage device to below 5°C. The method of cooling the water at the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer to a preset second temperature includes: This cools the water at the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer to 1~2℃.

[0009] In one embodiment, the first supersonic jet device and / or the second supersonic jet device is a Laval nozzle.

[0010] In one embodiment, the ultrasonic atomizer is selected as an ultrasonic atomizer capable of atomizing water mist with droplet diameters of 20μm to 50μm.

[0011] Secondly, one embodiment provides a method for preparing ice crystal particles, comprising: Collect air and cool the collected air to below 5°C; Collect the water and cool it to 1~2℃; Atomize water cooled to 1~2℃; The first-stage supersonic jet device is used to convert air cooled to below 5°C into a cold airflow below -41°C, which then acts on the atomized water mist, causing the atomized water mist to crystallize. The second-stage supersonic jet device is used to further crystallize the crystallized water mist to obtain ice crystal particles.

[0012] In one embodiment, the atomization of water cooled to 1-2°C includes: Water cooled to 1~2℃ is atomized into a water mist with a droplet size of 20μm~50μm using an ultrasonic atomizer.

[0013] In one embodiment, the method further includes ensuring that the atomized water mist crystals are fully mixed with the airflow, and then using a second-stage supersonic jet device to further crystallize the crystallized water mist to obtain ice crystal particles.

[0014] Thirdly, one embodiment provides an ice wind tunnel simulation system, including the ice crystal particle preparation system of any of the above embodiments.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are: Because the cooled airflow acts on the cooled water mist through the first supersonic jet device, the droplets in the water mist can crystallize into fine ice crystal particles. The two-stage ice crystal preparation using the first and second supersonic jet devices ensures sufficient crystallization of the water droplets in the mist. Compared to existing ice crystal preparation systems, this system has a simpler structure, lower complexity in ice crystal preparation, and is easier to maintain. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ice crystal particle preparation system according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the ice crystal particle preparation method of this application.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. Gas storage device; 2. Water storage device; 3. Mixer; 301. Primary mixer; 302. Secondary mixer; 303. Connecting pipe; 4. Ultrasonic atomizer; 5. First ultrasonic jet device; 6. Second ultrasonic jet device; 7. Air cooling assembly; 8. Water cooling assembly; 9. Refrigeration cycle system; 10. Test section. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Similar elements in different embodiments are referred to by associated similar element reference numerals. In the following embodiments, many details are described to facilitate a better understanding of this application. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that some features may be omitted in different situations, or may be replaced by other elements, materials, or methods. In some cases, certain operations related to this application are not shown or described in the specification. This is to avoid obscuring the core parts of this application with excessive description. For those skilled in the art, detailed description of these related operations is not necessary; they can fully understand the related operations based on the description in the specification and general technical knowledge in the art.

[0019] Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any suitable manner to form various embodiments. At the same time, the steps or actions in the method description can be rearranged or adjusted in a manner obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various orders in the specification and drawings are only for the clear description of a particular embodiment and do not imply a necessary order, unless otherwise stated that a particular order must be followed.

[0020] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish the objects being described and have no sequential or technical meaning. Unless otherwise specified, the terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application include both direct and indirect connections (linkages).

[0021] To facilitate the explanation of the inventive concept of this application, the following is a brief description of the ice crystal particle preparation technology in icing wind tunnels.

[0022] Ice crystals can cause engine icing. Icing caused by supercooled droplets mainly occurs on the engine fairing, inlet support plates, and guide vanes. Ice crystal formation primarily occurs in the low-pressure compressor and even the first few stages of the high-pressure compressor. This can lead to a loss of engine thrust, or even damage or render the entire engine unusable, seriously threatening flight safety. Currently, the most effective method for simulating ice crystal formation is using an icing wind tunnel. In icing wind tunnel experiments, the ice-making equipment generally consists of a cooling chamber, cloud chamber, refrigeration box, refrigeration system, air supply pipes, fan, heat exchanger, screening machine, feeder, and evaporator. Its structure is complex, and maintenance is costly and difficult. Therefore, this application provides an ice crystal particle preparation system, method, and ice wind tunnel simulation system that, while meeting the same icing requirements, simplifies ice crystal particle preparation, reduces the complexity of ice crystal preparation, and facilitates maintenance.

[0023] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 This application provides an ice crystal preparation system, which includes a gas storage device 1, a water storage device 2, a mixer 3, an ultrasonic atomizer 4, a first ultrasonic jet device 5, a second ultrasonic jet device 6, an air cooling assembly 7, and a water cooling assembly 8.

[0024] The gas storage device 1 is equipped with an air cooling assembly 7, which circulates refrigerant. Through heat exchange, the gas at the outlet of the gas storage device 1 is cooled to a preset first temperature. A first supersonic jetting device 5 is installed between the outlet of the gas storage device 1 and the gas inlet of the mixer 3. A water cooling assembly 8 is installed between the outlet of the water storage device 2 and the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer 4, cooling the water at the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer 4 to a preset second temperature. The outlet of the ultrasonic atomizer 4 is connected to the water mist inlet of the mixer 3; the outlet of the mixer 3 is connected to the ice tunnel via a second supersonic jetting device.

[0025] Because the cooled airflow acts on the cooled water mist through the first supersonic jetting device 5, the droplets in the water mist can crystallize to form fine ice crystal particles. The two-stage ice crystal preparation using the first supersonic jetting device 5 and the second supersonic jetting device 6 ensures that the water droplets in the water mist can fully crystallize. This ice crystal preparation system has a simple structure, low complexity in ice crystal preparation, and is easy to maintain.

[0026] In one embodiment, the ice crystal preparation system further includes a refrigeration cycle system 9, which is connected to an air cooling assembly 7, and the refrigerant in the air cooling assembly 7 is provided by the refrigeration cycle system 9.

[0027] In one embodiment, cooling the gas at the outlet of the gas storage device 1 to a preset first temperature includes cooling the gas at the outlet of the gas storage device 1 to below 5°C. This ensures that the temperature of the gas entering the first supersonic jet device 5 is sufficiently low, so that after the gas flow is accelerated by the first supersonic jet device 5 to reach Mach 1, the static temperature of the gas flow can reach -41°C, and after being accelerated by the second supersonic jet device 6 to reach Mach 2, the static temperature of the gas flow can reach -118°C.

[0028] When air accelerates from near rest to supersonic speed, the airflow cools down rapidly. By accelerating the air, the air temperature is cooled down to a level far below the temperature at which droplets form homogeneous nuclei.

[0029] In one embodiment, in order to ensure that the static temperature of the airflow can reach -41°C after being accelerated by the first supersonic jet device 5, a Laval nozzle is selected as the first supersonic jet device 5, so that the airflow can be accelerated to Mach 2 after being accelerated by the second supersonic jet device 6.

[0030] It should be noted that in order to ensure that the airflow after passing through the second supersonic jet device 6 reaches Mach 2 when the outlet of the second supersonic jet device 6 is in an atmospheric environment, the internal working pressure of the ice crystal particle preparation system needs to be greater than 0.8 MPa, which can be achieved by adjusting the internal pressure of the gas storage device 1.

[0031] In one embodiment, the refrigeration cycle system 9 is connected to the water cooling assembly 8, and the refrigerant in the water cooling assembly 8 is supplied by the refrigeration cycle system 9. The refrigerant in the air cooling assembly 7 and the refrigerant in the water cooling assembly 8 can be the same type of refrigerant or different types of refrigerant.

[0032] In one embodiment, cooling the water at the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer 4 to a preset second temperature includes cooling the water at the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer 4 to 1~2°C. This allows the atomized water droplets to crystallize more easily.

[0033] In one embodiment, to meet the requirements of the ice wind tunnel simulation system for ice crystal particle size, the atomized water droplet diameter should be 20μm~50μm. Therefore, the ultrasonic atomizer 4 is selected as an ultrasonic atomizer capable of atomizing water droplets with a diameter of 20μm~50μm. In one embodiment, the ultrasonic atomizer 4 can be a 10T45-5A atomizer.

[0034] The applicant discovered in their research that, since droplet freezing requires a certain amount of time, a two-stage ice crystal preparation method is employed to ensure that all water mist is converted into ice crystal particles. In the first stage, small droplets solidify upon encountering a high-speed, cold airflow, but this process takes time. Therefore, to ensure sufficient contact and uniform mixing between the airflow and the droplets, a fully mixing structure is required. While existing technologies can be used for this fully mixing structure, this application provides a novel structure, which is described in detail below. Figure 1 In one embodiment, the mixer 3 includes a primary mixer 301 and a secondary mixer 302, with a connecting pipe 303 between the bottoms of the primary mixer 301 and the secondary mixer 302. The cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting pipe 303 is smaller than that of the primary mixer 301 and smaller than that of the secondary mixer 302. This creates a reflux zone between the primary mixer 301 and the secondary mixer 302, ensuring sufficient contact between the airflow and the droplets.

[0035] The ultrasonic atomizer 4 below the primary mixer 301 can form cooled water into uniformly sized droplets, which are then mixed in the primary mixer 301. Some of these droplets become ice crystals and flow into the secondary mixer 302 along with the airflow through the connecting pipe 303, achieving thorough mixing of the airflow and droplets. The thoroughly mixed airflow and droplets are then subjected to the action of the Laval nozzle (second supersonic jet device 6), ensuring that all droplets exist in the form of ice crystals. The resulting ice crystals are then sent into an ice wind tunnel for simulation experiments.

[0036] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 1 The hardware structure of the ice crystal particle preparation system shown in the figure does not constitute a limitation on the ice crystal particle preparation system. It may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0037] In one embodiment, the ice crystal particle preparation method provided in this application can be implemented based on the ice crystal particle preparation system of any of the above embodiments. Please refer to [the relevant documentation]. Figure 2 ,include: Step S10: Collect air and cool the collected air to below 5°C.

[0038] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 1The air is collected in the air storage device 1 and cooled to below 5°C through heat exchange by the air cooling component 7.

[0039] Step S20: Collect water and cool the collected water to 1~2℃.

[0040] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 Water is collected in a water storage device 2, and the water in the water storage device 2 is cooled to 1~2℃ by heat exchange through a water cooling component 8.

[0041] Step S30: Atomize the water cooled to 1~2℃.

[0042] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 The water cooled to 1-2°C is atomized using an ultrasonic atomizer 4. In one embodiment, to meet the requirements of the ice wind tunnel simulation system for ice crystal particle size, the water cooled to 1-2°C is atomized into water mist with a droplet size of 20μm-50μm using an ultrasonic atomizer. Therefore, an ultrasonic atomizer capable of atomizing water mist with a droplet size of 20μm-50μm can be selected.

[0043] In step S40, the first-stage supersonic jet device is used to convert air cooled to below 5°C into a cold airflow below -41°C, which then acts on the atomized water mist, causing the atomized water mist to crystallize.

[0044] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 In mixer 3, the air cooled to below 5°C is converted into a cold airflow below -41°C by the first supersonic jet device 5 (first stage supersonic jet device) and applied to the atomized water mist, causing the atomized water mist to crystallize.

[0045] In one embodiment, a Laval nozzle is used as the first supersonic jet device 5 to convert air cooled to below 5°C into a cold airflow below -41°C, which then acts on the atomized water mist, causing the atomized water mist to crystallize.

[0046] In step S50, the crystallized water mist is further crystallized using a second-stage supersonic jet device to obtain ice crystal particles.

[0047] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 A Laval nozzle was used as the second-stage supersonic jetting device to further crystallize the crystallized water mist into ice crystal particles.

[0048] In the ice crystal particle preparation method of the above embodiment, a two-stage ice crystal preparation process allows water droplets in the water mist to fully crystallize. This ice crystal preparation method has a simple process, low complexity, and is easy to operate.

[0049] In one embodiment, the method for preparing ice crystal particles further includes mixing the atomized water mist crystals with the airflow and then using a second-stage supersonic jet device to further crystallize the crystallized water mist to obtain ice crystal particles.

[0050] Since the freezing of droplets requires a certain amount of time, a two-stage ice crystal preparation method is adopted to ensure that all water mist is converted into ice crystal particles. In the first stage, tiny droplets solidify upon encountering a high-speed, cold airflow, but this process takes time. Therefore, to ensure sufficient contact and uniform mixing between the airflow and the droplets, one embodiment is described below. Figure 1 The mixer 3 is divided into a primary mixer 301 and a secondary mixer 302. A connecting pipe 303 is provided between the bottoms of the primary mixer 301 and the secondary mixer 302. The cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting pipe 303 is smaller than that of the primary mixer 301 and smaller than that of the secondary mixer 302. In this way, a reflux zone is formed between the primary mixer 301 and the secondary mixer 302, thereby ensuring sufficient contact between the airflow and the droplets.

[0051] In one embodiment, the ice wind tunnel simulation system provided in this application includes the ice crystal particle preparation system of any of the above embodiments, thereby obtaining an ice wind tunnel simulation system with a simpler structure and easier operation. Please refer to... Figure 1 The outlet of the ice crystal particle preparation system of the ice wind tunnel simulation system is connected to the test section 10 of the ice wind tunnel simulation system, so that the prepared ice crystal particles can be directly used for ice wind tunnel simulation tests.

[0052] One embodiment of this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a program, the stored program including a method for preparing ice crystal particles that can be loaded by a processor and processed in any of the above embodiments.

[0053] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the functions of the various methods in the above embodiments can be implemented by hardware or by computer programs. When all or part of the functions in the above embodiments are implemented by computer programs, the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, which may include: read-only memory, random access memory, disk, optical disk, hard disk, etc., and the program is executed by a computer to achieve the above functions. For example, the program can be stored in the memory of a device, and when the program in the memory is executed by the processor, all or part of the above functions can be achieved. In addition, when all or part of the functions in the above embodiments are implemented by computer programs, the program can also be stored in a server, another computer, disk, optical disk, flash drive, or external hard drive, etc., and can be downloaded or copied to the memory of a local device, or the system of the local device can be updated. When the program in the memory is executed by the processor, all or part of the functions in the above embodiments can be achieved.

[0054] The above examples illustrate the present invention only to aid in understanding it and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make various simple deductions, modifications, or substitutions based on the principles of this invention.

Claims

1. An ice crystal particle production system, characterized by, It includes an air storage device (1), a water storage device (2), a mixer (3), an ultrasonic atomizer (4), a first ultrasonic jet device (5), a second ultrasonic jet device (6), an air cooling assembly (7), and a water cooling assembly (8). An air cooling component (7) is provided inside the gas storage device (1) so that the gas at the outlet of the gas storage device 1 is cooled to a preset first temperature; the first supersonic jet device (5) is provided between the outlet of the gas storage device (1) and the gas inlet of the mixer (3). The water cooling assembly (8) is provided between the outlet of the water storage device (2) and the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer (4), so that the water at the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer (4) is cooled to a preset second temperature. The outlet of the ultrasonic atomizer (4) is connected to the water mist inlet of the mixer (3); The outlet of the mixer (3) is connected to the ice tunnel via a second supersonic jet device; The process of cooling the gas outlet of the gas storage device to a preset first temperature includes: This cools the gas at the outlet of the gas storage device to below 5°C. The method of cooling the water at the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer (4) to a preset second temperature includes: This cools the water at the inlet of the ultrasonic atomizer (4) to 1~2°C.

2. The ice crystal particle production system of claim 1, wherein, The mixer (3) includes a primary mixer (301) and a secondary mixer (302), and a connecting pipe (303) is provided between the bottom of the primary mixer (301) and the secondary mixer (302); the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting pipe (303) is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the primary mixer (301) and smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the secondary mixer (302).

3. The ice crystal particle production system of claim 1, wherein It also includes a refrigeration cycle system (9) which is connected to the air cooling assembly (7) and the water cooling assembly (8) respectively to provide circulating refrigerant to the air cooling assembly (7) and the water cooling assembly (8) respectively.

4. The ice crystal particle production system of claim 1, wherein The first supersonic jet device (5) and / or the second supersonic jet device (6) are Laval nozzles.

5. The ice crystal particle production system of claim 1, wherein, The ultrasonic atomizer (4) is selected from models that can atomize water mist with droplet diameters of 20μm to 50μm.

6. A method for producing ice crystal particles using the ice crystal particle production system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, include: Collect air and cool the collected air to below 5°C; Collect the water and cool it to 1~2℃; Atomize water cooled to 1~2℃; The first supersonic jet device is used to convert air cooled to below 5°C into a cold airflow below -41°C, which then acts on the atomized water mist, causing the atomized water mist to crystallize. The second supersonic jet device is used to further crystallize the crystallized water mist to obtain ice crystal particles.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The atomization of water cooled to 1~2℃ includes: Water cooled to 1~2℃ is atomized into a water mist with a droplet size of 20μm~50μm using an ultrasonic atomizer.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein, It also includes a method that allows the atomized water mist crystals to be fully mixed with the airflow, and then uses a second supersonic jet device to further crystallize the crystallized water mist to obtain ice crystal particles.

9. An ice wind tunnel simulation system characterized by, Includes the ice crystal particle preparation system as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

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