Numerical simulation of phase change process with variable thermal properties

A numerical investigation is carried out to track the phase change front and to determine the temperature distribution in a phase change medium by using Implicit Enthalpy method. The enthalpy model, which has previously been applied only for analysis assuming constant thermal properties, has been extended to variable properties. Modified Newton-Raphson method is applied to perform iterations on the size of the time step and enthalpy. Aluminum, steel and water are considered as phase change materials. Results are presented to show the effect of the variation of properties and surface temperature on the size of time step to move the interface from one node to another node and heat transfer characteristics. Comparisons with constant property models indicate that the effects of property variations are significant.