Numerical simulation of melting process within a square enclosure with oscillatory surface temperature

This paper presents a numerical study dealing with the melting of a pure metal (tin) from a hot vertical wall having a uniform surface temperature with a time-dependent sinusoidally varying perturbation of a square cavity. Parametric simulations via a finite difference method have been directed towards the response of the melting process in the enclosure to the imposed oscillatory wall temperature. Results clearly demonstrate that a steady periodic melting regime arises following a period of transient oscillatory melting. The heat transfer rates at the vertical hot and cold walls, as well as the melting rate, exhibit a regular temporal oscillation at a frequency equal to that of the imposed wall temperature perturbation but with a phase difference. The effects of relevant parameters on the oscillatory melting behavior are investigated.