Thermal performance assessment of phase change material for electronic cooling: An experimental investigation

Abstract

AbstractIn the present study, an experimental investigation is performed to check the performance of phase change material (PCM) OM42 for passive electronic cooling applications. Rectangular fins were used as PCM thermal conductivity enhancers (TCEs) to enhance the thermal conductivity of PCM. The experiments were performed (a) by maintaining the required input heat flux to the heater and (b) by maintaining the set point temperature (SPT) of the heater. The heater wattage controller was used to supply the required power to the heater and thermostat W1209 was used to control the SPT of the heater. The experiments were performed in the combination of PCM and fins, with fins only, With PCM only, and with PCM and fins. The obtained results signify improved performance of the heat sink when PCM with fins was used. At input heat flux of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 kW/m2 the heat sink reaches the critical temperature in 80, 60, 55, 50 and 40 minutes respectively in the absence of PCM without fins, but with the presence of PCM without fins and PCM with fins, the heater sink is well below the critical temperature for a complete charging cycle. At input heat flux of 4 and 5 kW/m2, the intensity of PCM melting rate is faster and hence solid‐liquid interface decreases quite rapidly as the buoyancy force dominates the viscous force since the volume of liquid PCM rises as the natural convection effect increases in the liquid region.