A review of indirect freezing desalination: Key parameters, experimental research, and numerical modeling

Seawater desalination is a key solution to global freshwater shortages. Among various methods, freeze desalination (FD) has gained attention for its low energy consumption, minimal corrosion, and reduced scaling. Indirect FD, which prevents direct contact between seawater and refrigerants, ensures higher ice purity and is more suitable for potable water production. This review examines the principles, mechanisms, and key parameters influencing the seawater freezing process. By combining experimental and modeling approaches, the potential and challenges of this low-energy technology are explored. The results indicate that factors such as freezing temperature, initial salinity, and supercooling degree significantly affect ice quality and desalination efficiency. However, experimental limitations, such as scale constraints and the difficulty of replicating real seawater conditions, impact accuracy. While current models provide qualitative insights into ice crystal growth, their quantitative predictions require further refinement. Future research should focus on enhancing experimental accuracy, optimizing phase-field models and CFD simulations to improve freezing process prediction, while optimizing system integration to reduce costs and support industrial applications.