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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

ISBN Print: 0-89116-559-2

International Heat Transfer Conference 8
August, 17-22, 1986, San Francisco, USA

EFFECTS OF DENSITY CHANGE AND SUBCOOLING ON THE MELTING OF A SOLID IN A RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC8.980
pages 1787-1792

Abstract

This study determines the effects of subcooling and density change due to phase-change upon the unsteady heat transfer problem of melting in rectangular geometries using a numerical method. The left side of a two-dimensional container is suddenly subjected to an isothermal heating. Instantaneously, an infinitesimal melt region forms. As a result, several types of singularities appear in the governing equations at time zero. They are removed by the choice of scales used in the nondimensionalization. Subcooling acts to reduce the melting rate, since some of the available thermal energy must be used as sensible heat to raise the solid's temperature to the melting point. Density change induces a blowing effect at the solid-liquid boundary if the solid is more dense than the liquid phase. Since liquid leaving the vicinity of the interface brings sensible heat along with it, the melting rate is reduced. A suction effect at the interface and enhanced melting are produced if the liquid is the denser phase.