Objective oriented phase change material composite heat sink design

While phase change material based heat sinks have been shown to act as highly efficient transient cooling devices, the effective implementation of these components is prevented by a lack design guidelines. Here, we develop an analytical framework for optimizing rectangular and cylindrical composite sinks. This accomplished through definition two objectives: (1) maximize thermal buffering capacity at given time, (2) time system can achieve minimum threshold. In this context, be quantified in terms absorption rate or temperature, depending on boundary condition applied. We demonstrate that, finite volumes, there exist regimes where either limited which absorb energy total capacitance system. present expressions describing optimal volume fraction each combination objectives, form factors, conditions derived from appropriate solutions melting problem. Analytically predicted fractions are validated with numerical experimental results existing literature original work. collective toolbox enables engineers make rational decisions architecture optimize under specific loads constraints.