Analysis of forced convection heat transfer in microencapsulated phase change material suspensions (original) (raw)

This article presents a numerical analysis of laminar forced convection heat transfer in microencapsulated phase change material (PCM) suspensions within a circular tube under constant heat flux conditions. Key factors considered include the microcapsule crust, initial subcooling, and the width of the phase change temperature range, showing that these aspects significantly influence wall temperature variations. The numerical results demonstrate strong agreement with experimental findings, indicating the potential for enhanced thermal management in energy storage systems using PCM suspensions.