Solid velocity correction schemes for a temperature transforming model for convection phase change

Purpose - To study the effects of velocity correction schemes for a temperature transforming model (TTM) for convection controlled solid-liquid phase-change problem. Design/methodology/approach - The effects of three different solid velocity correction schemes, the ramped switch-off method (RSOM), the ramped source term method (RSTM) and the variable viscosity method (VVM), on a TTM for numerical simulation of convection controlled solid-liquid phase-change problems are investigated in this paper. The comparison is accomplished by analyzing numerical simulation and experimental results of a convection/diffusion phase-change problem in a rectangular cavity. Model consistency of the discretized TTM is also examined in this paper. The simulation results using RSOM, RSTM and VVM in TTM are compared with experimental results. Findings - In order to efficiently use the discretized TTM model and obtain convergent and reasonable results, a grid size must be chosen with a suitable time step (which should not be too small). Applications of RSOM and RSTM-TTM yield identical results which are more accurate than VVM. Originality/value - This paper provides generalized guidelines about the solid velocity correction scheme and criteria for selection of time step/grid size for the convection controlled phase change problem.