Abstract
A vertical cylinder embedded in a horizontal plate-like solid initially at its fusion temperature is subjected to a step change in temperature. The resulting melting process with natural convection in the time-dependent melt region was analyzed by means of a finite difference method. The shapes of melting front and the temperatures along the one-half height of the phase change material (PCM) were measured in the experiments using n-octadecane as a PCM. The analytical results agreed well with the experimental results. The variations of the dimensionless volume of melt region with Rayleigh number and a dimensionless time are clarified. A relationship between Nusselt number on the heated cylinder and Rayleigh number is obtained.
