Experimental study on natural convection heat transfer performance of microencapsulated phase change material slurry in a square cavity

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Microencapsulated phase change slurry (MicroEPCMS), consisting of microencapsulated phase change material (MicroEPCM) and base liquid, represents a novel latent heat functional fluid that can absorb a large amount of heat within its phase change temperature range. It has found widespread use as a functional liquid cooling medium for heat dissipation in batteries, electronic devices, and other devices. In this work, MicroEPCMS with different MicroEPCM concentration were prepared. The physical properties of MicroEPCMS including density, thermal conductivity, and dynamic viscosity were tested within different temperature ranges. The results showed that the MicroEPCMS exhibits a superior thermal energy storage capacity compared to water. In the phase change range of MicroEPCM, the MicroEPCMS has a higher thermal conductivity compared to water. In addition, the natural convection heat transfer characteristics of MicroEPCMS in a square cavity were investigated under varying heating power. The results indicated that MicroEPCMS can enhance natural convection heat transfer by absorbing heat with a minimal temperature rise during the phase change process compared to water. Moreover, higher heating power enables natural convection enhancement of MicroEPCMS in a square cavity. These results underscore the significant potential of MicroEPCMS as a functional liquid cooling medium for applications in thermal energy storage and thermal management.