Melt

Here is the 2-D version of the melting butter problem. The temperature distribution will be symmetric about the centerline, so the mesh only includes 1/2 of the stick (100 X 25 elements). The temperature gradient across the centerline is zero.

Nomenclature: T_plate is the temperature of the hot plate, T_amb is the room air temperature, T_init is the initial temperature of the butter (about -18 °C out of the freezer, 3 °C out of the refrigerator). Cooling/heating due to the room air is controlled by the Convective Heat Coefficient h. Since heat rises above the plate, a thin film of warm air will form along the edge of the stick - indicated by green plot. This is only an approximation.

Find the 1-D model HERE.

Material

Plate Temperature, T_plate (°C)
Room Temperature, T_amb (°C)
Initial Temperature, T_init (°C)

Convective Heat Coefficient, h (W/m²-K)

Simulation Time Scale

Show Temperature Contours

Diagnostic
Time: 0:00 m:s
Heat Rate: 0 W
Solid remaining: 100 %

Properties(Butter)
Initial Solid Mass (m) : 0 g
Heat Capacity (C_p): 0 J/kg-K
Melting Point (T_F): 0 °C
Solid Density (ρ) 0 kg/m³
Thermal Conductivity (k) 0 W/m-K
Latent Heat of Fusion (L_F) 0 J/kg

Melted Butter 2D