Ice formation around isothermal radial finned tubes

The present study presents a thermal numerical model for the solidification of Phase Change Material around a radially finned tube with a constant wall temperature. The model is based upon a pure conduction formulation and the enthalpy method. The finite difference approach and the alternating direction implicit scheme are used to discretize the system of equations and the associated boundary, initial and final conditions. Numerical experiments were realized to optimise the numerical code. Numerical simulations were performed to investigate the effects of the number of fins, fin thickness, fin material, aspect ratio of the tube arrangement and the tube wall temperature. Graphical results were presented, discussed and equations relating the effect of each of the variables on the time for complete solidification are also presented. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.