Dilute Viscoelastic Fluids for Enhanced Heat Transfer in Immersion Cooling Concepts

Rosenfeld J, Seddiq M, Rüppel B, Weiß L, Reese H, Karathanassis IK, Smith T, Brown G, Wensing M, Gavaises M (2025)

Publication Type: Conference contribution

Publication year: 2025

Conference Proceedings Title: Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Fluid Flow, Heat and Mass Transfer (FFHMT 2025)

Event location: London GB

DOI: 10.11159/ffhmt25.166

Abstract

Viscoelastic fluids are promising candidates for the thermal management of high heat-flux components of electrified powertrains, such as the battery pack via immersion cooling concepts. This study investigates the ability of viscoelasticity-inducing additives to manipulate flow patterns and enhance heat transfer in a benchmark bluff body geometry, under inertial laminar flows using dilute polymer solutions. Simulations were conducted in OpenFOAM to model viscoelastic fluid flow using the Phan-Thien-Tanner (PTT) constitutive equation and were validated against particle image velocimetry (PIV) experimental data. Two benchmark-flow configurations were studied: (i) a 180-degree channel bend and (ii) flow around a heated bluff body. Results show that viscoelastic fluids enhance vorticity in both geometries to varying extents compared to Newtonian fluids, as a function of the PTT-model slip (ζ) parameter. Heat transfer studies with a heated bluff body showed a trend of increasing heat flux for the viscoelastic fluid, with a measurable 3% enhancement at a Reynolds number of 800 also captured by the numerical results. The study highlights the potential of leveraging the influence of second normal stress difference in viscoelastic fluids for thermal management and discusses avenues for further optimisation.

Authors with CRIS profile

Bastian Rüppel Professur für Fluidsystemtechnik Lukas Weiß Lehrstuhl für Technische Thermodynamik (LTT) Michael Wensing Professur für Fluidsystemtechnik

Involved external institutions

City, University of London GB United Kingdom (GB) Lubrizol Limited GB United Kingdom (GB) The Lubrizol Cooperation US United States (USA) (US) University of London GB United Kingdom (GB) Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Rosenfeld, J., Seddiq, M., Rüppel, B., Weiß, L., Reese, H., Karathanassis, I.K.,... Gavaises, M. (2025). Dilute Viscoelastic Fluids for Enhanced Heat Transfer in Immersion Cooling Concepts. In Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Fluid Flow, Heat and Mass Transfer (FFHMT 2025). London, GB.

MLA:

Rosenfeld, Joseph, et al. "Dilute Viscoelastic Fluids for Enhanced Heat Transfer in Immersion Cooling Concepts." Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Fluid Flow, Heat and Mass Transfer (FFHMT 2025), London 2025.

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