An experimental investigation of the solidification process in a V-shaped sump

• Published in: International journal of heat and mass transfer 1995, Vol.38 (13), p.2383-2393
• Main Authors: Burton, R., Yang, G., Dong, Z.F., Ebadian, M.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Binary mixtures; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Growth from solutions; Interfaces (materials); Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Physics; Solutions; Temperature distribution; Temperature measurement; Test facilities
• ISSN: 0017-9310; 1879-2189
• DOI: 10.1016/0017-9310(94)00362-Y

An experimental study of binary mixture solidification in a V-shaped sump is conducted. NH 4Cl-H 2O is used as the phase change material. The variations of temperature, concentration, as well as the location of the interface front, are measured and reported in this investigation. The results indicate that the solidification process exhibits totally different behavior when the initial component of the solution is varied. For a hypoeutectic solution, the columnar solidification in the dendritic interface is the dominant mechanism. For the hypereutectic solution, both columnar and equiaxed solidification are important. The solidification starts as the equiaxed dendrites grow and coalesce in the entire solution. They then descend and settle at the bottom of the sump to form a loose, mushy zone. The solid region grows underneath the mushy zone.