Modeling Latent Heat Fluxes of Water in Logs during their Freezing

This paper suggests a methodology for mathematical modelling and research of two interconnected problems: 2D non-stationary temperature distribution in logs subjected to freezing and change in the latent heat fluxes of the free and bound water in logs during the freezing process. For the purpose of this methodology, a 2-dimensional mathematical model has been created, solved, and verified for the transient non-linear heat conduction in logs during their freezing at convective boundary conditions. The model includes a mathematical description of the specific latent heat fluxes, qLHv-fw and qLHv-bw, formed by the freezing of the free and bound water in the logs, respectively. The paper presents solutions of the model with explicit form of the finite-difference method in the calculation environment of Visual Fortran Professional and its verification in accordance with our own experimental studies. The paper presents the results of simulation analysis of 2D non-stationary temperature distribution in the longitudinal section of pine log with a diameter of 0.24 m, length of 0.48 m, and moisture content above the hygroscopic range during its 30-hour freezing in a freezer at the temperature of the processing air medium of approximately –30 °C. The change in the latent heat fluxes qLHv-fw and qLHv-bw during the log freezing is presented, visualized, and analyzed.