Mathematical simulation of melting inside a square cavity with a local heat source

Abstract

Numerical simulation of transient melting regimes inside an enclosure in the presence of a local heat source has been carried out. Mathematical model formulated in terms of dimensionless variables such as stream function, vorticity, and temperature has been numerically solved by finite difference method. Effects of the Rayleigh number 4·10⁵ ≤ Ra ≤ 5·10⁷, Stefan number 2.21 ≤ Ste ≤ 5.53, and dimensionless time on velocity and temperature fields as well as on the local Nusselt number along the heat source surface have been analyzed in detail. The transient effects of the considered process at high values of the Rayleigh number have been identified.