A finite element enthalpy technique for solving coupled nonlinear heat conduction/mass diffusion problems with phase change

A rigorous Finite Element (FE) formulation based on an enthalpy technique is developed for solving coupled nonlinear heat conduction/mass diffusion problems with phase change. The FE formulation consists of a fully coupled heat conduction and solute diffusion formulation, with solid‐liquid phase change, where the effects of pressure and convection are neglected. A full enthalpy method is employed eliminating singularities which result from abrupt changes in heat capacity at the phase interfaces. The FE formulation is based on the fixed grid technique where the elements are two dimensional,four noded quadrilaterals with the primary variables being enthalpy and average solute concentration. Temperature and solid mass fraction are calculated on a local level at each integration point of an element. A fully consistent Newton‐Raphson method is used to solve the global coupled equations and an Euler backward difference scheme is used for the temporal discretization. The solution of the enthalpy‐temperature relationship is carried out at the integration points using a Newton‐Raphson method. A secant method employing the regula falsi technique takes into account sudden jumps or sharp changes in the enthalpy‐temperature behaviour which occur at the phase zone interfaces. The Euler backward difference integration rule is used to calculate the solid mass fraction and its derivatives. A practical example is analysed and results are presented.