Hamdan, MohammadAbu-Nabah, BassamAhmad, Muhammad2025-03-042025-03-042024-1235.232-2024.67https://hdl.handle.net/11073/25920A Master of Science thesis in Mechanical Engineering by Muhammad Ahmad entitled, “Advanced Thermal Management in Intermittent Electronics: Integrating Metal Foam and Phase Change Materials”, submitted in December 2024. Thesis advisor is Dr. Mohammad O. Hamdan and thesis co-advisor is Dr. Bassam Abu-Nabah. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).The present work investigates the thermal performance and optimization of heat sinks for electronic applications using a metal foam, with different porosity and phase change material (PCM). The study examines various design parameters, such as PCM types (RT31, RT42, and RT55), different metal foam porosities (0.1, 20, 40, 60, 80, 90 and 95%), different foam materials (aluminum and copper), different levels of permeability (10⁻⁸, 10⁻¹⁰, and 10⁻¹²), and different heat fluxes(1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 W/m²). The problem is numerically analyzed using ANSYS-fluent which is a commercial finite volume software. The objective of the study is to optimize the heat sink model for critical temperature ranges of 60−80°C while enforcing Boussinesq approximation. Results indicate that utilizing a porous metal foam with PCM enhances the heat sink efficiency by improving heat transfer with increased porosity leading to a significant improvement in thermal performance. Heat sinks infused with RT55 exhibit superior thermal performance compared to those with RT42 and RT31. This is due to its higher melting point, which allows it to remain solid for longer periods of heat application. While permeability and gravity had resulted in a negligible effect on the performance RT55 infused with 95% porous copper foam emerged as the best-performing combination, optimizing thermal energy storage for applications in passive heat sinks. Further analysis evaluated the melting times of RT55, RT42, and RT31 across various porosities, revealing that higher porosity generally results in longer melting times due to the larger PCM volume acquiring more time to absorb heat. Additionally, the selection of PCM type significantly influences the thermal performance, with RT31 consistently outperforming RT55 and RT42. The choice of foam material has rendered a significant effect on heat transfer efficiency, it is essential to note that the size of the heat sink can also impact the effectiveness of different metal foam types. Larger heat sinks may benefit from specific foam geometries or materials that enhance thermal conduction and fluid flow dynamics, thereby optimizing performance. Furthermore, varying heat flux levels and Boussinesq effects provide insights into real-world applications. The study also highlights the importance of optimizing these factors for the effective management of cooling systems.enPhase change materialPlate-fin heat sinkPorous mediaMetal foamThermal performanceOptimizationThesis