A numerical model for phase-change suspension flow in microchannels

A model is developed for simulation of the laminar hydrodynamic and heat transfer characteristics of suspension flow with micro-nano-size phase-change material (PCM) particles in a microchannel (D/d(p) = 12.2-500). The demonstrated simultaneous solutions for the two-phase conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy allow the investigation of heat transfer enhancement mechanisms and their limits, due to nonthermal equilibrium melting of PCM suspension particles in a flow, such as the existence of a particle-depleted layer, particle-wall interaction, phase-change (melting) region propagation, and local heat transfer coefficients for both constant wall heat flux and constant wall temperature boundary conditions.