Numerical analysis of laminar forced convection heat transfer in microencapsulated phase change material suspensions

In this article, a new numerical model of laminar forced convection heat transfer in microencapsulated phase change material suspensions is developed. By combining the finite difference method (FDM) with the dual reciprocity boundary element method (DRBEM), a numerical simulation for the process of heat transfer in microencapsulated phase change material suspensions in a circular tube with constant wall heat flux is presented. The effects of the specific heat at constant pressure are examined on the basis of the newly developed formulation. The numerical results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data by Goel et al. [1994]. Some new understandings of the mechanism of enhanced heat transfer in the suspensions are obtained and are of significance for the design of latent functionally thermal fluids.