Numerical simulation on jet impingement heat transfer with microcapsule phase change material suspension: Single jet and array jet

Abstract

The heat transfers on the single and array jet impingement with microcapsule phase change material (MEPCM) suspension are numerically investigated. The equivalent heat capacity method and DPM model are employed to treat the latent heat absorption and motion of the MEPCM particles in suspension, respectively, as well as the VOF method for tracking the free surface from suspension to air. The results show that the latent heat absorption and disturbance effect of the MEPCM particles can significantly improve the heat transfer of the suspension compared to the water. There exists an optimal jet distance at ΔL/D = 4.2 and an optimal suspension concentration at ηp = 5% to achieve the optimal heat transfer. The jet inlet temperature has a favourable range for the heat transfer enhancement, −0.83 <θj < 0.39, which is lower than the phase change temperature range of MEPCM particles. Compared to single jet, the array jet may provide a better heat transfer although the cross-flow between neighboring jets weakens the heat transfer of central jet column. Both of hole number and hole spacing for array nozzle have a non-monotonic effect on the heat transfer, with the optimums at N = 19 and S/D = 7, respectively.