Thermal performance analysis of a novel PCM capsule in red blood cell shape

•An novel PCM encapsulation structure in red blood cell shape is proposed.•The capsule in red blood cell shape has excellent thermal performance.•Optimization results reveal the structural merits of a real red blood cell. Based on the principles of bionics, a novel PCM (phase change material) capsul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied thermal engineering 2017-06, Vol.120, p.130-137
Main Authors: Cheng, Xiwen, Zhai, Xiaoqiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bionics
Blood cells
Charging
Cylinders
Deformation
Erythrocytes
Latent thermal energy storage
Optimization
PCM capsule
Phase change materials
Red blood cell structure
Simulation
Studies
Temperature distribution
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Summary:•An novel PCM encapsulation structure in red blood cell shape is proposed.•The capsule in red blood cell shape has excellent thermal performance.•Optimization results reveal the structural merits of a real red blood cell. Based on the principles of bionics, a novel PCM (phase change material) capsule in red blood cell (RBC) shape is proposed, in the present study. The RBC-shaped capsule as well as its deformation structure (cylinder, drum, ring and spherical ball) with the same volume are comprehensively investigated and compared by experimental and simulation method. Thermal performances of the capsules, such as the liquid fraction variation, temperature distribution and cold charging rate of the capsules, are studied. The results demonstrate that the RBC-shaped capsule studied has the best thermal performance, while the spherical capsule has the worst performance. The cold charging rate of the RBC-shaped capsule is 2.12 times that of the spherical capsule. The optimization results reveal that the RBC-shaped capsule with the geometrical parameter characteristics of a real human RBC, whose L:H:r is about 7:1:2, is the best structure.
ISSN:1359-4311
1873-5606
DOI:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.03.112