Modeling of solid phase sedimentation during directional solidification in a side cooled cavity

TLDR: In this article, a numerical approach for modeling the multi-phase flow during an alloy solidification process is presented, where a fixed grid volume averaging technique has been used for solving mass, momentum, energy, and species equation while taking into account the solid phase advection and local remelting.

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a new numerical approach for modeling the multi‐phase flow during an alloy solidification process. In many solidification processes, advection of solid may have a dramatic effect on bulk convection field as well as on the solid front growth and hence on the macro‐segregation pattern. In the present work, a numerical model is developed to simulate directional solidification in presence of melt convection as well as solid advection in the form of sedimentation. A 2D cavity filled with hyper‐eutectic aqueous ammonium chloride solution (25 wt.% of ammonium chloride) being chilled from one of the side walls has been chosen as the model problem for the numerical simulation.Design/methodology/approach – A fixed grid volume averaging technique has been used for solving mass, momentum, energy, and species equation while taking into account the solid phase advection and local re‐melting. Two different criteria have been identified for the solid particles in the mush...