Experimental study on heat transfer enhancement and flow performance of microencapsulated phase change slurry in microchannel with different rib structures

Microencapsulated phase change slurry (MPCS), with higher phase change latent heat, promises to be an effective new working fluid for microchannel cold plates. In this study, an experimental platform was established to investigate the heat transfer and flow characteristics of MPCS in microchannel cold plates with different rib structures. The wall temperature, convective heat transfer, and pressure drop characteristics of water and MPCS with different mass concentrations at various inlet temperatures and flow rates in straight rib microchannel structures were investigated and at an inlet temperature of 29 °C, 5 wt% MPCS in straight rib microchannels significantly reduced the overall temperature difference between the wall and the inlet, with the convective heat transfer performance improving by up to 8 % compared to water. And the pressure drop characteristics of MPCS exhibited a regular pattern with temperature variation. Additionally, the heat transfer and flow characteristics of MPCS and water were studied in three different microchannel structures: straight ribs, staggered pin fins, and non-staggered pin fins. The comprehensive performance of 5 wt% MPCS in the staggered pin-fin microchannel improved by up to 26 % compared to the straight rib microchannel. This study provides theoretical insights into the heat transfer and flow characteristics of MPCS in microchannels, offering valuable support for the design of microchannel heat exchangers.