CAD modelling of solidification phase front around a vertical finned tube

摘要

The rate of solidification of phase change materials can affect the efficiency of latent heat storage systems. This paper proposes the use of CAD to model the solidification process of a phase change material around a vertical finned tube. The approach uses a digital camera to capture the time progression of the solidification phase front. The captured 2D images are then transformed to solid models using a CAD software package. This approach is currently restricted to solidification processes that are symmetrical about an axis of revolution. Future work will focus on more complex solidification processes.