FREEZING OF SALT SOLUTIONS ON A VERTICAL WALL

Abstract
The freezing of water-salt (sodium chloride) solution on a vertical wall of a two-dimensional cavity is investigated experimentally. The influence of natural convection on the freezing rate and on the interface shape is examined. Flow visualization revealed the presence of convection confined to a region above a stable solutally stratified fluid. The thermally and solutally driven natural convection was found to strongly affect the shape of the solidification front and the rate of freezing. Due to continuous rejection of salt at the interface, a stable solutally stratified region of solution develops at the bottom of the cavity where the convection is absent