Thermal performance analysis of nanofluids in a thermosyphon heat pipe using CFD modeling

A computational fluid dynamics model for simulation of a thermosyphon with two-phase flow including phase change heat transfer was developed. De-ionized water and CuO/Water nanofluid were used as working fluids in the thermosyphon. Results show that, maximum heat flux of the nanofluid is about 46 % higher than that of water. Also by increasing the nanofluid concentration, the wall temperature decreases, and the concentration of 1 wt% is the optimum concentration.     

Particle size effect on heat transfer performance in an oscillating heat pipe

The effect of Al₂O₃ particles on the heat transfer performance of an oscillating heat pipe (OHP) was investigated experimentally. Water was used as the base fluid for the OHP. Four size particles with average diameters of 50 nm, 80 nm, 2.2 μm, and 20 μm were studied, respectively. Experimental results show that the Al₂O₃ particles added in the OHP significantly affect the heat transfer performance and it depends on the particle size. When the OHP was charged with water and 80 nm Al₂O₃ particles, the OHP can achieve the best heat transfer performance among four particles investigated herein. In addition, it is found that all particles added in the OHP can improve the startup performance of the OHP even with 20 μm Al₂O₃ particles.     

Thermal performance of heat pipe with suspended nano-particles

Nanofluids are employed as the working medium for a conventional cylindrical heat pipe. A cylindrical copper heat pipe of 19.5?mm outer diameter and 400?mm length was fabricated and tested with two different working fluids. The working fluids used in this study are DI-water and Nano-particles suspension (mixture of copper nano particle and DI-water). The overall heat transfer coefficient of the heat pipe was calculated based on the lumped thermal resistance network and compared with the heat transfer coefficient of base fluid filled heat pipe. There is a quantitative improvement in the heat transfer coefficient using nano-particles suspension as the working medium. A heat transfer correlation was also developed based on multiple regression least square method and the results were compared with that obtained by the experiment.     

Experimental investigation on performance of ice storage air-conditioning system with separate heat pipe

An experimental study on operation performance of ice storage air-conditioning system with separate helical heat pipe is conducted in this paper. The experimental system of ice storage air-conditioning system with separate heat pipe is set up. The performance parameters such as the evaporation pressure and the condensation pressure of refrigeration system, the refrigeration capacity and the COP (coefficient of performance) of the system, the IPF (ice packing factor) and the cool storage capacity in the cool storage tank during charging period, and the cool discharge rate and the cool discharge capacity in the cool storage tank, the outlet water temperature in the cool storage tank and the outlet air temperature in room unit during discharging period are investigated. The experimental results show that the ice storage air-conditioning system with separate helical heat pipe can stably work during charging and discharging period. This indicates that the ice storage air-conditioning system with separate helical heat pipe is well adapted to cool storage air-conditioning systems in building.     

Theoretical investigation on thermal performance of heat pipe flat plate solar collector with cross flow heat exchanger

Based on the heat transfer characteristics of absorber plate and the heat transfer effectiveness-number of heat transfer unit method of heat exchanger, a new theoretical method of analyzing the thermal performance of heat pipe flat plate solar collector with cross flow heat exchanger has been put forward and validated by comparisons with the experimental and numerical results in pre-existing literature. The proposed theoretical method can be used to analyze and discuss the influence of relevant parameters on the thermal performance of heat pipe flat plate solar collector.     

Numerical solutions of pulsating flow and heat transfer characteristics in a pipe

Numerical studies are made of flow and heat transfer characteristics of a pulsating flow in a pipe. Complete time-dependent laminar boundary-layer equations are solved numerically over broad ranges of the parameter spaces, i.e., the frequency parameter β and the amplitude of oscillation A. Recently developed numerical solution procedures for unsteady boundary-layer equations are utilized. The capabilities of the present numerical model are satisfactorily tested by comparing the instantaenous axial velocities with the existing data in various parameters. The time-mean axial velocity profiles are substantially unaffected by the changes in β and A. For high frequencies, the prominent effect of pulsations is felt principally in a thin layer near the solid wall. Skin friction is generally greateer than that of a steady flow. The influence of oscillation on skin friction is appreciable both in terms of magnitude and phase relation. Numerical results for temperature are analyzed to reveal significant heat transfer characteristics. In the downstream fully established region, the Nusselt number either increases or decreases over the steady-flow value, depending on the frequency parameter, although the deviations from the steady values are rather small in magnitude for the parameter ranges computed. The Nusselt number trend is amplified as A increases and when the Prandtl number is low below unity. These heat transfer characteristics are qualitatively consistent with previous theoretical predictions.     

Thermal performance of an open loop closed end pulsating heat pipe

This paper presents an experimental study of an open loop pulsating heat pipe (OLPHP) of 0.9 mm inner diameter. The performance characterization has been done using four working fluids at vertical and horizontal orientations. Water, Methanol, 2-Propanol and Acetone has been employed as the working fluid with 50% fill ratio. The experimental results indicate a strong influence of gravity and thermo physical properties of the working fluids on the performance of OLPHP. Considering all the working fluids used, Water has shown better thermal performance in vertical orientation while Methanol has shown better performance in horizontal orientation. All the working fluids perform better at horizontal orientation.     

A study of loop heat pipe with biporous wicks

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of various bimodal pore size distributions of biporous wicks for a loop heat pipe (LHP). The study was conducted following a statistical method using a two-level factorial plan involving three variables (particle size of pore former:74–88 and 125–149 μm Na₂CO₃, pore former content:20% by volume and 25% by volume, sintering temperature:700 and 750°C). Finally, the heat transport capability of the LHP between monoporous wicks and biporous wicks has been investigated. Experimental results show that, at the sink temperature of 10°C and the allowable evaporator temperature of 80°C, the heat transfer capacity of the better biporous wick achieved 200 W and the total thermal resistance was 0.31°C/W. The performance is enhanced about 60%, compared to a monoporous wick for 125 W and 0.53°C/W. Therefore, LHPs with biporous wicks are very attractive for high heat flux applications in the future.     

The experimental study on flat plate heat pipe of magnetic working fluid

An effective thermal spreader can achieve uniform heat flux distribution and thus enhance heat dissipation of heat sinks. Flat plate heat pipe is one of the highly effective thermal spreaders. Magnetic fluid is liquid and can be moved by the force of magnetic field. Therefore, the magnetic fluid is suitable to be used as the working fluid of flat plate heat pipes which have a very small gap between evaporation and condensation surfaces. We prepared a disk-shaped wickless flat plate heat pipe, and the distance between evaporation and condensation surfaces is only 1 mm. From experimental study, the effect of heat flux and working fluid ratio on the performance of flat plate heat pipe is presented. Also we compared the experimental results between the performance of water and magnetic fluid as working fluids.     

Theoretical analysis to investigate thermal performance of co-axial heat pipe solar collector

The thermal performance of co-axial heat pipe solar collector which consist of a collector 15 co-axial heat pipes surrounded by a transparent envelope and which heat a fluid flowing through the condenser tubes have been predicted using heat transfer analytical methods. The analysis considers conductive and convective losses and energy transferred to a fluid flowing through the collector condenser tubes. The thermal performances of co-axial heat pipe solar collector is developed and are used to determine the collector efficiency, which is defined as the ratio of heat taken from the water flowing in the condenser tube and the solar radiation striking the collector absorber. The theoretical water outlet temperature and efficiency are compared with experimental results and it shows good agreement between them. The main advantage of this collector is that inclination of collector does not have influence on performance of co-axial heat pipe solar collector therefore it can be positioned at any angle from horizontal to vertical. In high building where the roof area is not enough the co-axial heat pipe solar collectors can be installed on the roof as well as wall of the building. The other advantage is each heat pipe can be topologically disconnected from the manifold.     

Nucleate boiling heat transfer in aqueous solutions with carbon nanotubes up to critical heat fluxes

In this study, pool boiling heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) and critical heat fluxes (CHFs) are measured on a smooth square flat copper heater in a pool of pure water with and without carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersed at 60 °C. Tested aqueous nanofluids are prepared using multi-walled CNTs whose volume concentrations are 0.0001%, 0.001%, 0.01%, and 0.05%. For the dispersion of CNTs, polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymer is used in distilled water. Pool boiling HTCs are taken from 10 kW/m² to critical heat flux for all tested fluids. Test results show that the pool boiling HTCs of the aqueous solutions with CNTs are lower than those of pure water in the entire nucleate boiling regime. On the other hand, critical heat flux of the aqueous solution is enhanced greatly showing up to 200% increase at the CNT concentration of 0.001% as compared to that of pure water. This is related to the change in surface characteristics by the deposition of CNTs. This deposition makes a thin CNT layer on the surface and the active nucleation sites of the surface are decreased due to this layer. The thin CNT layer acts as the thermal resistance and also decreases the bubble generation rate resulting in a decrease in pool boiling HTCs. The same layer, however, decreases the contact angle on the test surface and extends the nucleate boiling regime to very high heat fluxes and reduces the formation of large vapor canopy at near CHF. Thus, a significant increase in CHF results in.     

Comparative study on performance of a zigzag printed circuit heat exchanger with various channel shapes and configurations

Comparative study has been performed with various channel cross-sectional shapes and channel configurations of a zigzag printed circuit heat exchanger (PCHE), which has been considered as a heat exchanging device for the gas turbine based generation systems. Three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations and heat transfer equations are solved to analyze conjugate heat transfer in the zigzag channels. The shear stress transport model with a low Reynolds number wall treatment is used as a turbulence closure. The global Nusselt number, Colburn j-factor, effectiveness, and friction factor are used to estimate the thermal–hydraulic performance of the PCHE. Four different shapes of channel cross section (semicircular, rectangular, trapezoidal, and circular) and four different channel configurations are tested to determine their effects on thermal–hydraulic performance. The rectangular channel shows the best thermal performance but the worst hydraulic performance, while the circular channel shows the worst thermal performance. The Colburn j-factor and friction factor are found to be inversely proportional to the Reynolds number in cold channels, while the effectiveness and global Nusselt number are proportional to the Reynolds number.     

A new designed heat pipe: an experimental study of the thermal performance in the presence of low-frequency vibrations

New experimental results present the effects of low-frequency vibrations in a horizontal heat pipe. The temperature difference between the evaporator and condenser of the heat pipe was measured under different heat transfer rates, filling ratios and frequencies. The low-frequency vibrations imposed a significant effect on the thermal performance as the best performance was achieved with the thermal resistance 0.05 K/W in the frequency 25 Hz.     

A vertical heat pipe: an experimental and statistical study of the thermal performance in the presence of low-frequency vibrations

New experimental results present the effects of low-frequency vibrations in a vertical heat pipe. The thermal resistance was investigated under different heat transfer rates, filling ratios and frequencies, increase of which improved the thermal performance. The vibrations were effective 33.83 % on the performance, and the best performance was estimated using the L16 array of Taguchi method, and it was achieved with the thermal resistance 0.064 K/W in the frequency 30 Hz.     

An experimental study on an oscillating loop heat pipe consisting of three interconnected columns

This paper presents some experimental results of an extensive research on a novel oscillating heat pipe. The heat pipe is formed of three interconnected columns as different from the pulsating heat pipe designs. The dimensions of the heat pipe considered in this study are large enough to neglect the effect of capillary forces. Thus, the self-oscillation of the system is driven by the gravitational force and the phase lag between the evaporation and condensation processes. The overall heat transfer coefficient is found to be approximately constant irrespective of heat load for the experimental cases considered. The results are also compared with the previously published data by other investigators for water as the working fluid and for the same heat input range. The experimental data for the time variation of the liquid column heights and the vapor pressure are correlated algebraically, convenient for practical uses.     

Effect of working fluid on the performance of a miniature heat pipe system for cooling desktop processor

The heat transfer performance of a miniature heat pipe system (MHPS) used for cooling a desktop computer processor is presented in this paper. The MHPS consists of 6 parallel cylindrical miniature heat pipes (MHPs) which are connected to a copper block at the evaporator section and which are provided with 15 parallel perpendicular copper sheets at the condenser section, used as external cooling fins. Acetone and ethanol are used as working fluids. As heat source a processor is employed which is attached to the copper block. Heat transfer characteristics of the individual MHPs and the complete MHPS using the two working fluids are experimentally determined. The results show that the maximum and steady state temperature of the processor has been significantly reduced by using MHPs with acetone, more than with ethanol, instead of a conventional finned aluminum heat sink with cooling fan. Additional use of a fan results in a much lower processor temperature for both working fluids.