Entropy Generation Rate in Microchannel Flow with Phase Change Particles

Laminar flow in a microchannel with the presence of phase change material particles is studied and entropy generation rate in the channel is examined in the present study. The influence of different parameters such as mass flow rate, heat flux, and particle volume concentrations on the volumetric entropy generation rate due to heat transfer and fluid friction is investigated. The flow and the temperature fields are predicted using a numerical method incorporating the fluid with effective thermophysical properties in the simulations. The entropy generation rate due to heat transfer is the maximum at high volume concentrations, mass flow rates, and heat flux. Entropy generation rate due to fluid friction reaches a maximum value at high mass flow rates and volume concentrations of particles and at low heat flux. Entropy generation rate due to heat transfer is dominant at low mass flow rates, however, at high mass flow rates, entropy generation rate due to fluid friction becomes comparable to entropy generation rate due to heat transfer.