An experimental study of accelerating phase change heat transfer

The present paper investigated the effect of ultrasonic vibrations on the melting process of a phase-change material (PCM). Furthermore, the present study considered constant heat flux boundary conditions unlike many of the previous researches adopted constant wail temperature conditions. Therefore, in the present study, modified dimensionless parameters such as Ste* and Ra* were used. Also, general relationships between melting with ultrasonic vibrations and melting without ultrasonic vibrations were established during the melting of PCM. Experimental observations show that the effect of ultrasonic vibrations on heat transfer is very important throughout the melting process. The results of the present study reveal that ultrasonic vibrations accompany the effects like agitation, acoustic streaming, cavitation, and oscillating fluid motion. Such effects are a prime mechanism in the overall melting process when ultrasonic vibrations are applied. They enhance the melting process as much as 2.5 times, compared with the result of natural melting. Also, energy can be saved by applying ultrasonic vibrations to the natural melting. In addition, various time-wise dimensionless numbers provide conclusive evidence of the important role of ultrasonic vibrations on the melting phenomena.