Title

Numerical Investigation of Flow and Heat Transfer Performance of Nano-Encapsulated Phase Change Material Slurry in Microchannels

Authors

Authors

S. Kuravi; K. M. Kota; J. H. Du;L. C. Chow

Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Heat Transf.-Trans. ASME

Keywords

heat transfer; microchannel flow; phase change materials; slurries; CHANGE MATERIAL SUSPENSIONS; POISEUILLE FLOW; CIRCULAR DUCTS; PARTICLES; LIQUID; Thermodynamics; Engineering, Mechanical

Abstract

Microchannels are used in applications where large amount of heat is produced. Phase change material (PCM) slurries can be used as a heat transfer fluid in microchannels as they provide increased heat capacity during the melting of phase change material. For the present numerical investigation, performance of a nano-encapsulated phase change material slurry in a manifold microchannel heat sink was analyzed. The slurry was modeled as a bulk fluid with varying specific heat. The temperature field inside the channel wall is solved three dimensionally and is coupled with the three dimensional velocity and temperature fields of the fluid. The model includes the microchannel fin or wall effect, axial conduction along the length of the channel, developing flow of the fluid and not all these features were included in previous numerical investigations. Influence of parameters such as particle concentration, inlet temperature, melting range of the PCM, and heat flux is investigated, and the results are compared with the pure single phase fluid.

Journal Title

Journal of Heat Transfer-Transactions of the Asme

Volume

131

Issue/Number

6

Publication Date

1-1-2009

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

9

WOS Identifier

WOS:000266408100015

ISSN

0022-1481

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