An Efficient Algorithm for Finite-Difference Analyses of Heat Transfer With Melting and Solidification

A simple algorithm incorporating the equivalent heat capacity model is described for the finite-difference heat transfer analysis involving melting and solidification. The latent heat of fusion is accounted for by using a linear interpolation of the nodal temperatures. Numerical solutions of both one- and two-dimensional phase change problems are presented. This scheme is insensitive to the magnitude of the temperature interval 2 AT assumed for phase transition to take place. Therefore, a very small (or zero) or large temperature interval 2AT can be used to properly simulate the fusion of a pure material or an alloy, respectively. The present algorithm can also be extended to the three-dimensional phase change problem