EFFECT OF LIQUID SUPERHEAT ON FREEZING OF N-HEXADECANE IN A RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE

The effects of initial liquid superheat and aspect ratio on the freezi ng characteristics of n-hexadecane in a rectangular enclosure were inv estigated. One vertical wall was held at a constant temperature below the freezing temperature of n-hexadecane while the other walls were in sulated. It was observed that changes in the initial liquid superheat had no effect on the shape of the solid-liquid interfaces. However, a slight decrease in the solidified mass fraction occurs with an increas e of initial liquid superheat. Larger solidified mass fractions were o bserved for higher aspect ratios. Suggested correlations of the solidi fied volume fraction with dimensionless time, Rayleigh and Stefan numb ers and aspect ratio are presented. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd.