
In this work, we analyze the thermocapillary-enhanced melting of n-octadecane driven by a constant heat flux, applied at the free surface, in microgravity. The material is enclosed in an open rectangular container of dimensions 2L x H, and its solid-to-liquid transition is described using an enthalpy-porosity formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations, assuming laminar and incompressible flow. We study the influence of key governing parameters, including the effect of the heated length Ĩphi is an element of (0, 1], the applied flux phi ⢚ is an element of (0, 8], and the container aspect ratio r is an element of [1.5, 22.8]. Heat transport is analyzed by comparing the thermocapillary-enhanced process with that driven solely by conduction, and quantified by the enhancement ratio G, which simply compares melting times in each scenario. We find that G increases with phi ⢚ and r, and is maximum at an optimal heated length Ĩphi similar or equal to 0.5. Compared to previous works on the melting of n-octadecane in microgravity, the associated enhancement G is more moderate in this system, and oscillatory thermocapillary convection is not observed over the range of parameters explored.
RECTANGULAR CAVITY, Design, metal, Flow, phase-change materials, Melting, Phase change materials, Thermocapillary effect, Containers, TRANSFER ENHANCEMENT, Aeronáutica, THERMAL-ENERGY STORAGE, thermocapillary convection, Microgravity
RECTANGULAR CAVITY, Design, metal, Flow, phase-change materials, Melting, Phase change materials, Thermocapillary effect, Containers, TRANSFER ENHANCEMENT, Aeronáutica, THERMAL-ENERGY STORAGE, thermocapillary convection, Microgravity
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