Numerical Analysis of Freezing Process in Cryosurgery

Abstract

A numerical method to simulate the freezing process in cryosurgery has been developed. The unsteady three-dimensional heat conduction and phase change were solved in a Cartesian grid system by using an enthalpy method. A cut cell method was used to deal with the cylindrical probe placed in the Cartesian grid. Heat conduction along the wall of cryoprobe was also solved in a cylindrical grid fixed on the probe. It was shown that the present method predicts the growth of iceball correctly with relatively coarse grid for various inclination of the probe.