The solidification of pure n-hexadecane inside a rectangular cavity enclosure under constant heat rate condition is investigated in this paper. The experiments are carried out in two rectangular test rigs of aspect ratios 1 and 1.5. Solidification of the n-hexadecane occurs on a vertical copper wall held under constant heat rate condition while the remaining walls are adiabatic. The rate of heat extraction from the vertical wall is controlled using a thermoelectric cooler. The solidification experiments are conducted for three diffferent heat rates at 10 W,15 W,and 20 W with an initial liquid superheat of 9 deg C. A rather flat solidification phase front parallel to the cold wall is observed for all heat rates, thus indicating that the natural convection in the liquid is negligible under constant heat rate condition. The solidification rte is larger at higher heat rate and at lower aspect ratio.
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