| The main objective of the thesis study is to develop a numerical scheme for accurate and efficient simulation of various processes of industrial importance involving different heat and mass transfer mechanisms that occur on irregularly shaped domains and regions with moving and/or free boundaries. The numerical scheme employs (a) the multizone adaptive grid generation technique (MAGG) for the discretization of physical domains of arbitrary shape, and (b) curvilinear finite-volume approach for the discretization of the governing equations and development of the finite difference equations. The MAGG technique provides the capability for (i) accurate representation of the irregular boundaries, (ii) treatment of single and multiple moving and free boundaries, and (iii) efficient distribution of the grid nodes adaptively in response to the development of the solution and/or evolution of the domain with time. The curvilinear finite-volume approach is based on the flux discretization in the physical domain, and therefore, modifications in the physical process models may be easily implemented, and the predictions may be readily examined. The combination of these two techniques provides a powerful tool for accurate and efficient simulation of complex transient (multistep) transport processes on multizone (multiphase) domains with arbitrarily-shaped, free, or moving boundaries.; The proposed methodology is presented, and its merits are discussed. The current status of the work and future plan are outlined. Capabilities of the methodology for the numerical modeling of several industrial processes, mostly in the materials processing area, are discussed. Its versatility is demonstrated by its application for the simulations of two industrial processes, namely; (a) oxidation of Silicon and diffusion of dopants/impurities in the oxide and the non-planar Silicon substrate, and (b) industrial solidification processes. Results of these simulations are presented, and situations for future consideration are specified. |
