| This study attempts to take advantage of porous media with high conductivity and the latent heat capacity of phase change materials together to enhance the overall heat transfer rate. A 3-D laminar model of a rectangular porous channel with high thermal conductivity and constant wall heat flux demonstrates high heat transfer when used in conjunction with the phase change material slurry. Numerical simulations for various wall heat fluxes and inlet velocities are carried out. The heat transfer coefficient along the heated surface of the porous channel is determined in situations with and without phase change materials to compare heat transfer effects in these different systems. There is a significant heat transfer enhancement when using phase change material slurries through porous channels, only under specific conditions of heat fluxes, inlet velocities and the particle concentrations. This study also investigates the effect of various porous media properties e.g. porosity and permeability on the heat transfer coefficient when applied with a slurry of phase change materials. |
