Numerical simulation of inhibition characteristics of wall temperature rise of phase change microcapsule in-cooled microchannel

Phase change microcapsule suspension is a new type of heat-storage and heat-transfer functional fluid. Owing to the lack of understanding of flow-solid interaction, there exists a difference in research result of the heat transfer performance of suspension fluid. Therefore, the arbitrary Lagrangian-Euler method is used to simulate the flow-solid transfer characteristics of phase-change microcapsules in the liquid-cooled microchannel. Furthermore, the comparison of heat-transfer between particle and phase-change capsules is conducted. The influences of the position, shape, and number of capsules on the inhibition of the wall temperature rise are investigated. The results show that the wall-temperature-rise inhibition mainly occurs in the upstream area of the capsules. The phase change of capsules can reduce the wall temperature rise. On the other hand, the spin movement is faster when the capsule is closer to the wall, and the heat transfer is enhanced. As a result, the inhibitory effect on the wall temperature rise becomes stronger, especially near the heating surface. The circular capsules spin movement is faster and the inhibition performance is better than the ellipse. With the capsules number increasing, the wall temperature inhibition effect also gradually strengthens.