Multi-Objective Optimization of Hybrid Heat Sinks with Phase Change Materials

Abstract

A passive method with phase change material (PCM) is an appropriate technique in electronic cooling. But, due to its poor thermal conductivity, many enhancers are employed to reduce the thermal resistance offered by the PCM. A partial filling strategy to reduce the cost and weight of foams with fins is used in this study. A hybrid heat sink with a combination of fins placed at the sidewalls of the enclosure and foams filled at certain heights such as 10, 20, and 30 mm is considered in this present work. A two-dimensional numerical model with n-eicosane as PCM is developed in ANSYS Fluent 19. A multi-objective optimization is carried out using a reliable multi criteria decision making approach. Different weightage is distributed to the objective functions in this method depending on the choice of the user. The pore size and density vary for various filling heights, and 60 cases are investigated for both charging and discharging cycles. The pore size of 0.8-0.95 and pore density of 5-25 pores per inch with a broad range is considered. From the discussions, guidelines for selecting a preferable pore size and pore density can be determined based on the filling height and applied weightage.

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Muthamil Selvan Nedumaran

Muthamil Selvan Nedumaran is a research scholar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Institute of Technology Karnataka, India. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering from CSI College of Engineering, The Nilgiris, Tamilnadu in 2014 and obtained his master’s degree in Energy Engineering from PSG College of Engineering, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu in 2018. His research interests include numerical simulations, fluid flow and heat transfer in phase change materials, and experimental heat transfer. Currently carrying out research in the area of heat transfer through phase change materials under the supervision of Assistant Professor Nagarajan Gnanasekaran.

Govindappa Trilok

Govindappa Trilok is a research scholar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Institute of Technology Karnataka, India. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering from University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), Bangalore, Karnataka in 2016 and obtained his master’s degree in Thermal Science and Engineering from UVCE Bangalore, Karnataka in 2018. His research interests include computational fluid dynamics, optimization techniques and fluid flow and heat transfer through metal based porous media. Currently carrying out research in the area of flow and heat transfer behavior of metal based porous media such as metal foams and wire mesh porous structures under the supervision of Assistant Professor Nagarajan Gnanasekaran.

Nagarajan Gnanasekaran

Nagarajan Gnanasekaran is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, India. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering (2002) from Bharathidasan University and obtained his Master of Engineering in Thermal Engineering (2006) from Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, and Ph.D. (2012) from Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai. His research interests include computational inverse problems, bio-heat transfer, stochastic modeling techniques, experimental and numerical heat transfer, hybrid optimization, heat and fluid flow in porous media.

Kamel Hooman

Kamel Hooman completed his Ph.D. at University of Queensland, for which he received a Dean’s Award for Research Higher Degree Excellence and an Emerald Engineering Award (Outstanding Doctoral Research). He is a Professor of Heat Transformation Technology in the Department of Process & Energy at the Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. His research focuses on both the fundamental and applied aspects of heat transformation and the conversion of renewable energy. He combines theoretical, numerical and experimental techniques with the aim of increasing the share of renewable energy and improving the efficiency of conventional systems. He is recognized worldwide for his work on heat exchangers and cooling towers which are essential technology for power generation and energy management. He has pioneered the use of metal foams in fuel cells, supercritical heat exchangers for geo/solar thermal power plants, and scaling of natural draft dry cooling towers. He is currently serving the International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Journal of Porous Media, and Heat Transfer Engineering as an Associate Editor.