A Frazil Slush Generation Calculation Model and the Condition of Water Intake Blockages on Ice-Covered Rivers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to clarify the frazil slush generation mechanism on ice-covered rivers. This study developed a frazil slush generation calculation model which targeted skim ice, frazil ice, snow fall and anchor ice. The input values for this model were air temperature, wind velocity, sunshine duration, snow-fall depth, water depth of river, flow velocity of river and latitude. We carried out field observations at a location where frazil slush floats on the water surface, recording data with a camera. It was shown that the calculation model generated by this study can reproduce the frazil slush generation of the real river. It was also found that rising air temperature, an increase in frazil slush thickness and falling upstream water levels are important factors in predicting the occurrence of water intake blockage caused by frazil slush.