Work

Influence of air velocity on enhancing heat transfer rate in phase change materials for efficient device temperature control

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of air velocity on heat transfer within phase change materials (PCMs) to maintain consistent temperatures in thermal management systems. The objective is to enhance the thermal performance of paraffin wax (RT42) as a PCM by evaluating how varying air velocities influence the heat absorption and phase change processes. Using ANSYS/FLUENT 16, the relationship between enthalpy, porosity, and heat transfer was quantitatively analyzed. The novelty of this work lies in its focus on the effect of air velocity on PCM performance, which has been underexplored in previous research. Key findings show that increasing air velocity significantly improves PCM heat absorption, facilitating faster heat dissipation and more efficient temperature regulation. Specifically, increasing air velocity by 1 m/s resulted in a 14 % improvement in the melting process at a heat flux range of 500–1000 W/m 2 , and a 45 % improvement at a heat flux of 1000–1500 W/m 2 . The study highlights the potential of air velocity optimization for applications requiring stable temperature control, such as in electronic devices and other thermal management systems.

Source: Heliyon

DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e43003