MELTING OF A PURE METAL FROM A VERTICAL WALL

Abstract
The role of natural convection daring melting of pure tin from a specially designed heater that formed a vertical wall of a rectangular cavity has been studied experimentally. Temperature and solid-liquid interface position were measured under carefully controlled conditions, and the evolution of the melting front and temperature in the liquid melt with time were followed. The experimental data show the effect of natural convection in the melt on the motion and shape of the interface as well as on the melting rate. In addition, the data are used to validate a numerical model developed previously