An implicit mixed enthalpy–temperature method for phase-change problems

Abstract

A finite element procedure for phase-change problems is presented. Enthalpy and temperature are interpolated separately and subsequently linked via the appropriate relation in the nodes of the mesh during the solution phase. A novel technique is here used where, depending on the characteristics of the problem, either temperature or enthalpy may be considered as primary variable. The resulting algorithm is both efficient and robust and is further easy to implement and generalize to arbitrary finite elements. The capabilities of the method are illustrated by the solution both isothermal and non-isothermal phase-change problems.