EFFECT OF WALL TEMPERATURE AND ASPECT RATIO ON THE SOLID-LIQUID INTERFACE DURING FREEZING INSIDE A RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE

The effect of aspect ratio on the solidification phase front inside a rectangular enclosure was investigated. One vertical side of the enclo sure was isothermal while the rest of the sides were adiabatic. Three different types of n-paraffins namely, n-octadecane, n-heptadecane and n-hexadecane were used in the solidification experiments. It was foun d that n-hexadecane, which gave a clear and sharp phase front, was a b etter candidate for the solidification experiments. Using an enclosure with a higher aspect ratio produces a flatter phase front compared to that of lower aspect ratio, a qualitative indication that the natural convection in the liquid of lower aspect ratio has a stronger influen ce on the phase front.