Numerical And Experimental Study of PCM- Enhanced Finned Heat Pipe Radiator

Efficient thermal management is a critical requirement in modern engineering applications, particularly in systems subjected to high heat flux. This study presents a combined numerical and experimental investigation of a Phase Change Material (PCM)-enhanced finned heat pipe radiator, aimed at improving heat dissipation performance and thermal stability. In the experimental phase, radiator prototypes were fabricated using identical geometrical configurations with different materials to examine the influence of material properties on thermal performance. A controlled setup consisting of a heat source, coolant circulation loop, and forced convection system was developed to replicate realistic operating conditions. Key parameters such as temperature variation, flow characteristics, and thermal response were monitored to evaluate system performance. The experimental observations indicate that material selection plays a significant role in determining heat transfer effectiveness, with high-conductivity materials demonstrating superior cooling behaviour. To support the experimental work, a detailed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis was carried out using ANSYS Fluent. A three-dimensional model of the radiator was developed and analysed under consistent boundary conditions to study temperature distribution, velocity profiles, and heat flux characteristics. The numerical results show good agreement with experimental trends, providing deeper insight into the thermal behaviour of the system. The incorporation of PCM enhances thermal energy storage through latent heat absorption, thereby reducing temperature fluctuations and improving overall system stability. The combined use of fins, heat pipe configuration, and PCM integration significantly enhances heat transfer performance. Overall, the study demonstrates that hybrid thermal enhancement techniques, along with appropriate material selection, can effectively improve radiator efficiency and offer promising solutions for advanced cooling applications in automotive, electronic, and energy systems.