Thermal Performance Analysis of Phase Change Material-Based Plate Finned Heat Sinks for Thermal Management Applications

Abstract

This experimental investigation focuses on employing phase change material (PCM) based heat sinks for passive thermal management system. PEG-6000 was inhibited as the PCM for the investigation. Four different configurations of plate fins, which acts as enhancers of thermal conductivity, (1) plate fin, (2) plate fins, (3) plate fins and (4) plate fins for three different heat fluxes 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 kW/m2. The propagation of melt front of heat sinks is investigated with the help of a digital camera. The analysis of time–temperature distribution for three values of heat flux and the operating time enhancement for different combination of fins is carried out. Results from the investigation show that due to the increased fin number, the temperature of the base of the heat sink was kept to a comparatively low value for a more extended period, than heat sinks with no fins. The highest increase in operation time is achieved with a heat flow of 3.0 kW/m2 in the case of four finned heat sink. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.