The paper titled “Thermal Analysis of Integrating Phase Change Material and Evaporative Cooling for Thermal Power Reserves via Electronic Cooling”, authored by Veerakumar Chinnasamy, Assistant Professor, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, investigates how integrating phase change materials with evaporative cooling can enhance the thermal management of electronic systems.

By comparing the performance of different working fluids under varying heat loads, the study shows how conventional cooling methods become less effective at higher power levels. The findings highlight Fluorinert FC-72 as a superior coolant for efficient heat storage and reclamation, underscoring its potential to reduce thermal resistance and improve the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of high-performance electronic applications.

Brief abstract of the research

Through experimental investigation, we examined the stored thermal power in a Phase Change Material (PCM) integrated with an electronic cooling system, focusing on the thermofluid implications of evaporative cooling. Using myristic acid as the PCM, the study evaluated the effectiveness of deionised water, Fluorinert FC-72, HFE-7200, and isopropanol under heat loads ranging from 30 to 110 W. Results show that Fluorinert FC-72 delivers superior thermal performance at 110 W, achieving a convective heat transfer coefficient of 242.4 W/m2K, a 99.2% heat reclamation ratio, and a minimised thermal impedance of 0.28 K/W. The maximum thermal power reserve was 10.8 W with FC-72, driven by rapid nucleation and minimal supercooling, which facilitated higher mass discharge rates. While error efficiency was used to quantify discrepancies in power reserves, the highest exergy efficiency of 4.6% was identified for deionised water at 30 W, resulting from a higher temperature gradient and reduced reclamation ratio.

Explanation of your research in layperson’s terms

This research investigates how to cool electronics more effectively by using liquids to transfer heat into a “thermal battery” made of phase change material. By testing various fluids, we found that Fluorinert FC-72 is the most efficient at high power, allowing the system to absorb and release heat rapidly. This setup helps prevent devices from overheating while maximising the amount of energy we can recover and store for later use.

Practical implementation

This research highlights the practical and social importance of high-performance cooling in our increasingly digital society. Improving the storage and transfer of heat provides numerous practical advantages.

• Data centre efficiency: Implementing these high-performance fluids and phase-change materials can prevent server overheating, enabling data centres to operate at higher capacities without increasing their physical footprint.
• Hardware longevity: By minimising thermal impedance and maintaining rapid thermal equilibrium, the system reduces thermal stress on delicate electronic components, significantly extending the lifespan of computers and industrial hardware.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Since data centres and large-scale electronics consume substantial electricity for cooling, improving heat reclamation and cooling efficiency directly reduces global energy demand and associated carbon emissions.

Collaborations

• Department of Mechanical Engineering, Alliance School of Applied Engineering, Alliance University, Bengaluru, Karnataka – 562106, India
• Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, SRM University-AP, Amaravati, 522240, Andhra Pradesh, India
• School of Mechanical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, 712749, South Korea
• Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, Dhanbad 826004, Jharkhand, India
• Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, South Korea
• Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rungta International Skills University, Bhilai, 490024, Chhattisgarh, India

Future research plans

• Nanofluid integration for enhanced conductivity
• Advanced geometric optimisation of heat sinks
• Long-term thermal cycling and stability analysis
• Hybrid multi-stage cooling systems

The link to the article

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352152X2504383X