Author(s)

J.Caldwell & C.C. Chan

Abstract

Numerical solution of Stefan problems in annuli J.Caldwell & C.C. Chan Department of Mathematics, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Abstract A novel enthalpy formulation is applied to Stefan problems in annuli and is compared with the heat balance integral method (HBIM). Both methods are applied to inward and outward solidification in cylindrical geometry, and the results are combined to give numerical solutions in annuli. It is found that the enthalpy method gives comparable accuracy with the HBIM except for small Stefan number, and is more efficient and flexible. 1 Introduction Change of phase occurs naturally in many physical and industrial processes. The classical phase change problem is that of melting or solidification via the conduction of heat, which is referred to in the literature as the Stefan problem. The main difficulty in solving this problem is the presence of a moving phase boundary. Hill [1] gives an account of analytical

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