Abstract
The high degree of uncertainty and conflicting literature data on the value of the permeability coefficient (also known as the mushy zone constant), which aims to dampen fluid velocities in the mushy zone and suppress them in solid regions, is a critical drawback when using the fixed-grid enthalpy-porosity technique for modelling non-isothermal phase-change processes. In the present study, the sensitivity of numerical predictions to the value of this coefficient was scrutinised. Using finite-volume based numerical simulations of isothermal and non-isothermal melting and solidification problems, the causes of increased sensitivity were identified. It was found that depending on the mushy-zone thickness and the velocity field, the solid–liquid interface morphology and the rate of phase-change are sensitive to the permeability coefficient. It is demonstrated that numerical predictions of an isothermal phase-change problem are independent of the permeability coefficient for sufficiently fine meshes. It is also shown that sensitivity to the choice of permeability coefficient can be assessed by means of an appropriately defined Péclet number.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 4360 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Energies |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 22 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2019 |
Event | XII International Conference on Computational Heat, Mass and Momentum Transfer - Rome, Italy Duration: 3 Sep 2019 → 6 Sep 2019 |
Keywords
- melting
- solidification
- mushy zone
- permeability coefficient
- enthalpy-porosity method