Ice formation around isothermal radial finned tubes

The present study presents a thermal numerical model for the solidification of Phase Change Material around a radially finned tube with a constant wal l temperature. The model is based upon a pure conduction formulation and th e enthalpy method. The finite difference approach and the alternating direc tion implicit scheme are used to discretize the system of equations and the associated boundary, initial and final conditions. Numerical experiments w ere realized to optimise the numerical code. Numerical simulations were per formed to investigate the effects of the number of fins, fin thickness, fin material, aspect ratio of the tube arrangement and the tube wall temperatu re. Graphical results were presented, discussed and equations relating the effect of each of the variables on the time for complete solidification are also presented. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.