The present study explores numerically and experimentally the process of a phase-change material (PCM) solidification in a spherical shell. At the initial state, the PCM liquid occupies 98.5% of the shell. The upper segment of 1.5% contains air, which flows in as the solidification progresses. In the experiments, a commercially available paraffin wax is used. Its properties are engaged in the numerical simulations. The investigation is performed for solidification in spherical shells of 20 mm, 40 mm, 60 mm, and 80 mm in diameter at the wall uniform temperature, which varied from to below the mean solidification temperature of the phase-change material. Transient numerical simulations are performed using the FLUENT 6.2 software and incorporate such phenomena as flow in the liquid phase, volumetric shrinkage due to solidification, and irregular boundary between the PCM and air. The numerical model is validated versus the experimental results. Shrinkage patterns and void formation are demonstrated. Dimensional analysis of the results is performed and presented as the PCM melt fractions versus the product of the Fourier and Stefan numbers. This analysis leads to a generalization that encompasses the cases considered herein.
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Numerical and Experimental Study of Solidification in a Spherical Shell
E. Assis,
E. Assis
Heat Transfer Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pearlstone Center for Aeronautical Studies,
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
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G. Ziskind,
G. Ziskind
Heat Transfer Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pearlstone Center for Aeronautical Studies,
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
Search for other works by this author on:
R. Letan
R. Letan
Heat Transfer Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pearlstone Center for Aeronautical Studies,
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
Search for other works by this author on:
E. Assis
Heat Transfer Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pearlstone Center for Aeronautical Studies,
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
G. Ziskind
Heat Transfer Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pearlstone Center for Aeronautical Studies,
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
R. Letan
Heat Transfer Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pearlstone Center for Aeronautical Studies,
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, IsraelJ. Heat Transfer. Feb 2009, 131(2): 024502 (5 pages)
Published Online: December 12, 2008
Article history
Received:
November 27, 2007
Revised:
August 4, 2008
Published:
December 12, 2008
Citation
Assis, E., Ziskind, G., and Letan, R. (December 12, 2008). "Numerical and Experimental Study of Solidification in a Spherical Shell." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. February 2009; 131(2): 024502. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2993543
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