Design and experimental analysis of a cooling system with erythritol/xylitol PCM thermal energy storage

The erythritol/xylitol eutectic phase-change material has strong potential applications in the field of thermal management. In this study, we propose a cooling system for high-power electronic devices that combined a closed water loop and Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES). The LHTES features double helical coil heat exchange tubes, using erythritol/xylitol as the PCM. A test platform was constructed to evaluate heat transfer performance. During the charging phase, the high-power, high-heat flux heater was cooled using a microchannel cold plate. The heat generated by the heater was transferred to the LHTES. In the discharging phase, the heater was turned off, and the heat stored in LHTES was released, achieving the regeneration of the PCM. Based on our previous work, a method involving gas and seeding injection was employed during the discharging process to trigger secondary nucleation. The helical heat exchange coil not only exhibited good heat exchange performance but also provideed sufficient gas pathways, allowing injected bubbles to create ample disturbance. This ensured thorough mixing of seeding particles with supercooled liquid. The total heat storage capacity of the heat storage unit was 10 MJ, achieving a maximum cooling power of 310 W. The impact of different operational parameters was examined, including water flow rate and heating power during the charging process, and the effects of gas and seed crystal injection, cooling fan speed, and water flow rate during the discharging process. An automated control system was established to optimize the cooling system's operation. This study facilitates the practical engineering application of erythritol/xylitol eutectic PCM.