Machine-Learning Assisted Optimization Strategies for Phase Change Materials Embedded within Electronic Packages

TL;DR

This paper explores machine learning-assisted optimization of embedded phase change materials within electronic devices to significantly improve thermal management, reducing peak temperatures and temperature fluctuations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining parametric and machine learning algorithms to optimize PCM geometry and properties within electronic packages.

Findings

Solder 174 outperforms other PCMs in embedded configurations.

Optimal melting points vary depending on whether peak temperature or transient fluctuation is minimized.

ML-assisted optimization reduces maximum temperature by 19% and fluctuations by 88%.

Abstract

Leveraging the latent heat of phase change materials (PCMs) can reduce the peak temperatures and transient variations in temperature in electronic devices. But as the power levels increase, the thermal conduction pathway from the heat source to the heat sink limits the effectiveness of these systems. In this work, we evaluate embedding the PCM within the silicon device layer of an electronic device to minimize the thermal resistance between the source and the PCM to minimize this thermal resistance and enhance the thermal performance of the device. The geometry and material properties of the embedded PCM regions are optimized using a combination of parametric and machine learning algorithms. For a fixed geometry, considering commercially available materials, Solder 174 significantly outperforms other organic and metallic PCMs. Also with a fixed geometry, the optimal melting points to minimize the peak temperature is higher than the optimal melting point to minimize the amplitude of the transient temperature oscillation, and both optima increase with increasing heater power. Extending beyond conventional optimization strategies, genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization with and without neural network surrogate models are used to enable optimization of many geometric and material properties. For the test case evaluated, the optimized geometries and properties are similar between all ML-assisted algorithms, but the computational time depends on the technique. Ultimately, the optimized design with embedded phase change materials reduces the maximum temperature rise by 19% and the fluctuations by up to 88% compared to devices without PCM.