An unconstrained melting analysis of a solid PCM in a spherical capsule

Abstract

Paper presented at the 7th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Turkey, 19-21 July, 2010.

A melting model of a solid phase change material (PCM) in a spherical capsule using the stream function in which a solid sphere is moving in a stagnant viscid fluid was proposed. The enthalpy method based on this model clarifies the sedimentation of a solid PCM and the appearance of close contact melting which is very significant. Furthermore, the analyzed result elucidates qualitatively the melting process of a solid PCM which was obtained by the experiment.