Numerical Investigation of the Latent Heat Storage During the Melting Driven Natural Convection Around Heat Source Embedded in a Rectangular Cavity: Application to the Passive Cooling

Abstract

Heat transfer within a cavity of adiabatic walls and containing a heat source (electronic component), carried by a substrate (board), in one of its sides is investigated. The strategy is to use a phase change material (PCM) as a heat sink for cooling the electronic component. The choice of this type of material is justified by their high density of energy storage. A 2D mathematical model is developed using the enthalpy-porosity method. The effect of natural convection is considered during the PCM melting process. Numerical investigations are focused on determining the optimal orientation of cavity for efficient cooling and also on the effect of the type of PCM (organic or inorganic) guaranteeing a long operating time while avoiding any failure.