Numerical simulation of solidification in a horizontal cylindrical annulus charged with an aqueous salt solution

A computational study of solidification of a binary Na2CO3 solution in a horizontal cylindrical annulus is performed using a continuum formulation with a control-volume based, finite-difference scheme. The initial conditions were selected to facilitate the study of counter thermal and solutal convection, accompanied by extensive mushy region growth. Numerical results are compared with experimental data with mixed success. Qualitative agreement is obtained for the overall solidification process and associated physical phenomena. However, the plume thickness calculated for the solutally-driven convective upflow is substantially smaller than the observed value. Evolution of double-diffusive layers is predicted, but over a time scale much smaller than that observed experimentally. Good agreement is obtained between predicted and measured results for solid growth, but the mushy region thickness is significantly overpredicted.