Thermal management of electronics enclosures under unsteady heating/cooling conditions using phase change materials (PCM)

This paper describes work on the design and development of a phase-changing materials (PCM) heat exchanger that will actively (using air movers) store energy during high load periods and release it during low load periods. These heat exchangers are to be made of an aluminum tube bundles in which encapsulated PCM materials (such as salts, wax, etc.) are included. Air is made to flow through the heat exchanger during power on conditions in order for the PCM to change phase; later, during power off conditions, outside air is used to remove the heat from the heat exchanger. Preliminary results indicate very favorably that PCM heat exchangers work relatively well in maintaining target temperatures. Furthermore, flow and heat transfer characteristics appear to be well predicted by the modeling of the heat exchangers