Phase Change Materials (PCM) possess the capability to absorb and release a considerable amount of heat while maintaining a nearly constant temperature using latent heat. This makes them an ideal choice for maintaining a constant temperature in various applications. However, a key drawback of PCM is their low thermal conductivity, which leads to a low energy absorption rate. As a result, PCM are mostly used in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, where the heat storage system can be designed based on a daily cycle.

The aviation industry is facing a major challenge in managing heat, as the growing heat load in aircraft has outpaced the development of thermal management systems (TMS). PCM could be used to relieve some of the pressure in the TMS, where a part of the heat could be stored in the PCM during thermal peaks and be released at a later stage, when the tension on the TMS is reduced. To be used in TMS in aviation, a significant reduction in size and mass of current PCM heat exchangers is required and the heat exchanger geometry needs to be adapted to accommodate a shorter phase change cycle. This could be achieved by increasing the available heat transfer area. A significant gap in the research on incorporating PCM in more compact geometries has been identified.

As part of this project a numerical framework for modelling the performance of different PCM Heat Exchanger designs is developed. This is used to evaluate more compact heat exchanger incorporating the PCM which would be adapted for the use in aircraft TMS, as well as identifying improvements in the design and the operating conditions of the heat exchanger.