Numerical simulation of solidification processes in enclosures

The present work deals with the development and application of numerical models for the simulation of solidification problems liquid/solid taking diffusion and convection into account. For the calculation of the thermal coupled flow process the finite element method is applied. In order to improve the numerical stability of the free convection problems, the streamline-upwind/Petrov-Galerkin method is used. Solidification processes are moving boundary problems. Three different models are set up which consider latent heat at the solidification front respectively in the mixed zone during the phase transition. Moreover, numerical methods are investigated in order to describe the behaviour of the flow at the boundary of the moving phase. Three examples serve illustrations; the technical example - casting of a transport and storage container - was provided by the company Siempelkamp Giesserei GmbH.