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Solidification and Cooling

The article includes information on solidification and cooling processes. It provides explanations on solidification and solidification and cooling examples while also answering what solidification is.

Introduction

Solidification and cooling processes are very common to witness in the world. Solidification is a process by which things become solid. Cooling is a process by which strings get frozen to solid. Cooling happens locally in residences as well. The freezing of water from its liquid state to the solid-state is done through the process of cooling. Cooling is therefore a solidification process. Cooling and solidification are important chapters in mechanical engineering. For that reason, the article has provided information on cooling. It has also looked at solidification and solidification and cooling examples while also answering what solidification is. 

Cooling

Cooling is observed almost in every place. The freezing of water from its liquid state to the solid-state is done through the process of cooling. Cooling is therefore a solidification process. Essentially, cooling is removing heat. As we know, heat is an energy form and cold is the absence of heat. So, in the cooling process, any heat present is removed. Cooling results in phase transformation or a temperature fall. Cooling is the aftermath of heat transfer processes like conduction, radiation, and convection. When heat is transferred it is transferred from a cooler to a hotter body. That hotter body might lose its heat when it is transferred to another cooler body through cooling and heat transfer. In mechanical engineering, cooling has an essential role. In mechanical engineering, cooling is used through a cooling system. It is an essential device for any mechanical device or apparatus as it helps regulate the temperature. It also prevents overheating. Overheating can lead to damage and malfunction. So, cooling serves as a deterrent and acts as a safety measure. An engine cooling system will help reduce the heat generated from running an engine. This is achieved with the help of running fluid. Cooling can be done in two ways:

  • Direct Cooling (Air)
  • Indirect cooling (Liquid)

Solidification

Solidification is the process in which something transforms into a solid from a liquid or gaseous state. Solidification is usually a physical phenomenon. Sometimes the volume can increase in this transformation if solidification occurs without any sublimation taking place. Solidification is a process by which things become solid. The casting industry in the mechanical engineering field relies on the solidification process for transforming certain materials. In it, elements are turned into solid from their previously liquid state. The solidification process has a variety of users across many industrial processes which are:

  • Mineral purifications
  • Casting
  • Alloying
  • Producing ingots
  • Welding
  • Making crystals

What is Solidification?

Most often in competitive exams questions come from cooling and solidification processes. A question that is very frequent in this section is what is solidification. To answer what solidification is, students must write that solidification is the process in which something transforms into a solid from a liquid or gaseous state. Solidification is usually a physical phenomenon. Solidification is a process by which things become solid. What solidification is answered by writing it is the accumulation of materials into crystalline forms so that it produces a single object. It is also involved in fixing heavy metals and reducing leachability. RSPs or Rapid Solidification Process are employed in casting as an alternative method. There are a few characteristics to solidification which can be written as an answer to what is solidification:

  • Small supercooling is involved
  • Crystalline grains make up the microstructure
  • Sometimes the volume can increase in this transformation if solidification occurs without any sublimation taking place.
  • Heterogeneous nucleation

Solidification and Cooling Examples

Solidification examples are:

  • Melted wax solidifying into a candle
  • Snow formation
  • Formation of igneous rocks 

Cooling examples are:

  • Hot tea becoming cold
  • Water turning into ice
  • Cooling temperature of bodies studied in forensics

Conclusion

Cooling is the aftermath of heat transfer processes like conduction, radiation, and convection. Solidification is the process in which something transforms into a solid from a liquid or gaseous state. In mechanical engineering, cooling has an essential role. In mechanical engineering, cooling is used through a cooling system. It is an essential device for any mechanical device or apparatus as it helps regulate the temperature. It also prevents overheating. Cooling also prevents overheating.