Numerical simulation for predicting DSC crystallization curves of tetradecane–hexadecane paraffin mixtures

• General source-based enthalpy method is employed to handle the liberation of latent heat due to the crystallization of paraffin mixture.
• Enthalpy-phase diagram of the binary mixture is presented.
• Using different cooling rates we will be able to predict the solidus and liquidus temperature of the mixture from DSC curves.

In this paper, the crystallization of the binary mixture system of tetradecane and hexadecane in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) cell has been studied experimentally and numerically. Different concentrations of tetradecane–hexadecane paraffin mixture were studied. The finite volume method is utilized to solve the heat transfer problem, and the general source-based enthalpy method is employed to handle the liberation of latent heat due to the solidification process. The enthalpy function of the binary mixture during the crystallization process is presented. The effects of the cooling rate and the initial concentration of tetradecane on the kinetics of the crystallization process are examined. It is found that the phase change process of the binary mixture takes place over a temperature range and the temperature range depends on the mixture composition.