Experimental Analyses of Flow Pattern and Heat Transfer in a Horizontally Oriented Polymer Pulsating Heat Pipe withMerged Liquid Slugs

Extended experiments were conducted on the oscillation characteristics of merged liquid slugs in a horizontally oriented polymer pulsating heat pipe(PHP).The PHP’s serpentine channel comprised 14 parallel channels with a width of 1.3 mm and a height of 1.1 mm.The evaporator and condenser sections were 25 and 50 mm long,respectively,and the adiabatic section in between was 75mmlong.Using a plastic 3D printer and semi-transparent filament made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene,the serpentine channel was printed directly onto a thin polycarbonate sheet to form the PHP.The PHP was charged with hydrofluoroether-7100.In the experiments,the evaporator section was heated,and the condenser section was cooled using high-temperature and low-temperature thermostatic baths,respectively.Flow patterns of the working fluid were obtained with temperature distributions of the PHP.A mathematical model was developed to analyze the flow patterns.Themerged liquid slugs were observed in every two channels,and their oscillation characteristics were found to be approximately the same in time and space.It was also found that the oscillations of the merged liquid slugs became slower,but the heat transfer rate of the PHP increased with a decrease in the filling ratio of the working fluid.This is because vapor condensation was enhanced in vapor plugs as the filling ratio decreased.However,the filling ratio had a lower limit,and the heat transfer rate was maximum when the filling ratio was 40.6%in the present experimental range.

Flow Patterns and Heat Transfer Characteristics of a Polymer Pulsating Heat Pipe Filled with Hydrofluoroether

Visualization experiments were conducted to clarify the operational characteristics of a polymer pulsating heat pipe(PHP).Hydrofluoroether(HFE)-7100 was used as a working fluid,and its filling ratio was 50%of the entire PHP channel.A semi-transparent PHP was fabricated using a transparent polycarbonate sheet and a plastic 3D printer,and the movements of liquid slugs and vapor plugs of the working fluid were captured with a high-speed camera.The video images were then analyzed to obtain the flow patterns in the PHP.The heat transfer characteristics of the PHPwere discussed based on the flowpatterns and temperature distributions obtainedwith thermocouples.Before starting heating,because of high wettability,large liquid slugs positioned at the evaporator section of the PHP.After starting heating,since the occurrence of boiling divided the large liquid slugs,oscillatory flowof smaller liquid slugs and vapor plugs was found in the PHP.Clear circulation flow of liquid slugs and vapor plugs was observed when the power input to the PHP was larger than 12.0 W.The flow patterns and temperature distributions confirmed that the circulation flow enhanced the heat transfer from the evaporator section to the condenser section of the PHP.In the circulation flow mode,large growth and contraction of vapor plugs were found one after another in all even-numbered PHP channels.However,the analysis of flow patterns clarified that the phase-change heat transfer rate by large growth and contraction of vapor plugs was 19%of the total heat transfer rate of the PHP.Although the generation of large vapor plugs was found in the PHP,most of the heat was transferred by the sensible heat of the working fluid.

Visual Study on Flow and Operational Characteristics of Flat Plate Closed Loop Pulsating Heat Pipes

This paper presents an experimental study including visualization on a flat plate closed loop pulsating heat pipes.It consists of a total of 40 channels with square cross section(2 mm×2 mm,165 mm long) machined directly on an aluminum plate(180 mm×120 mm×3 mm) covered by a transparent plate.The working fluid employed is ethanol.As a result,various flow patterns and their transitions are observed and found to be related to the fluid fill ratio,input heat load and the device orientation.Also the operational characteristics and working mechanism are discussed.

Two-Phase Flow Modeling in a Single Closed Loop Pulsating Heat Pipes

Mathematical modeling of pulsating heat pipes through ‘first’ principles is a contemporary problem which remains quite elusive. Simplifications and assumptions made in all the modeling approaches developed so far render them unsuitable for engineering design. In this paper, a more realistic modeling scheme is presented which provides considerable try for thought toward the next progressive step. At high enough heat flux level, closed loop pulsating heat pipes experience a bulk internal unidirectional fluid circulation. Under such a condition, conventional two-phase flow modeling in capillary tubes may be applied. This has been attempted for single-loop PHPs. A homogeneous model and a separated two-fluid flow model based on simultaneous conservation of mass, momentum and energy, have been developed for an equivalent ‘open flow’ system. The model allows prediction of two-phase flow parameters in each sub-section of the device thereby providing important insights into its operation. The concept of ‘void fraction constraint’ in pulsating heat pipe operation is introduced and its relevance to future modeling attempts is outlined.

The Study of Condensation Processes in the Low-Temperature Short Heat Pipes with a Nozzle-Shaped Vapour Channel

The results of researches of condensation processes in the vapour channel similar to the Laval nozzle of short linear heat pipes are presented. Capacitive sensors are additionally installed in cooled top covers of the heat pipes, and electromagnetic pulses were supplied to them from the external generator. At heating the heat pipe evaporator, starting from a certain thermal power threshold value, electromagnetic pulses became modulated. It is related with the formations of the boiling process in the capillary-porous evaporator and large amount of vapour over it. Boiling process results in rapid increase of the pressure under which the average temperature of the evaporator occurs to be less than the boiling temperature of the working fluid under increased pressure. Considering condensation of excess vapour, this leads to repeated initiation and extinction of the boiling process in the evaporator, which reflects in pressure pulsations in the vapour channel. Pressure pulsations cause modulating effect on electromagnetic impulses. Pulsations frequencies are measured as well as their dependence from overheating of the evaporator. Using the capacitive sensors and a special electronic equipment we measured the local thickness of the working fluid at the condensing surface inside the heat pipes. Time-averaged values of the condensate film thickness are measured, depending on the heat load on the capillary-porous evaporator. The measurement error does not exceed 2 × 10–3 mm. It is demonstrated that the condensate film thickness lessens sharply with the increase of the heat load on the evaporator of a Laval-like low-temperature heat pipe, while the heat resistance of the film on the condensing surface reaches 60% of the total heat resistance of heat pipe with the capillary-porous evaporator.

Field synergy analysis of different flow patterns in falling-film dehumidification system with horizontal pipes

Effects of the flow pattern of intertubular liquid film on mass and heat transfer synergies in a falling-film dehumidification system with horizontal pipes are studied.A flow model of the dehumidifying solution between horizontal pipes is established using Fluent software,the rule of transitions of the flow pattern between pipes is studied,critical Reynolds numbers of flow pattern transitions are obtained,and the accuracy of the model is verified by experiments.The mass transfer synergy angle and heat transfer synergy angle are respectively used as evaluation criteria for the mass transfer synergy and heat transfer synergy,and distribution laws of the synergy angles for droplet,droplet columnar and curtain flow patterns are obtained.Simulation results show that the mass transfer synergy angles corresponding to droplet,droplet columnar and curtain flow patterns all rise to a plateau with time.The mean mass-transfer synergy angle is 98°for the droplet flow pattern,higher than 96.5°for the droplet columnar flow pattern and 95°for the curtain flow pattern.The results show that the mass transfer synergy of the droplet flow pattern is better than that of the droplet columnar flow pattern and that of the curtain flow pattern.

Experimental Investigation on the Effection of Flow Regulator in a Multiple Evaporators/Condensers Loop Heat Pipe with Plastic Porous Structure

Multiple loop heat pipes which have two evaporators and two condensers in one loop are a kind of active heat transfer device. Since they have two evaporators and two condensers, the operating mode also becomes multiple. This work discusses the cases that multiple loop heat pipes were operated with one condenser at high temperature and the other at low temperature. To avoid the high temperature returning liquid and keep the multiple loop heat pipes work properly, the flow regulator which was made of polyethylene was designed, fabricated and applied in this test. The effect of flow regulator was confirmed and analyzed. In the test that large temperature difference existed between two sinks, it can be found according to the result that the flow regulator worked effectively and prevented the high temperature vapor to enter the inlet of common liquid line, which can keep the evaporators and returning liquid to operate at low temperature. With the increment of heat loads and the temperature difference between two sinks, the pressure difference between two condensers became larger and larger. When the pressure difference was larger than the flow regulator’s capillary force, the flow regulator could not work properly because the high temperature vapor began to flow through the flow regulator. According to the test data, the flow regulator can work properly within the sinks’ temperature 0°C/60°C and the two evaporators’ heat load 30/30 W.

Heat Transfer and Flow Analysis in Loop Heat Pipe with Multiple Evaporators Using Network Model

Thermal performance of a loop heat pipe with two evaporators and two condensers was examined using a lumped network model analysis. Thermosyphon-type vertical loop heat pipe and capillary-pump-type horizontal loop heat pipe were calculated by examining the change of heating rate of two evaporators. Calculation results showed that the vapor and liquid flow rates in the loop heat pipe and the thermal conductance of the heat pipe changed significantly depending on the distribution ratio of the heating rate of the multiple evaporators. The thermal performance of the vertical loop heat pipe with two evaporators was also examined and experimental results of flow direction and thermal conductance of the heat pipe agreed with the analytical results. The lumped network model analysis is therefore considered accurate and preferable for the practical design of a loop heat pipe with multiple evaporators.

Characterizing pressure fluctuation into single-loop oscillating heat pipe

The pressure characteristics inside single loop oscillating heat pipe （OHP） having 4.5 mm inner diameter copper tube with the loop height of 440 mm were addressed. Distilled water was used as working fluid inside the OHP with different filling ratios of 40%, 60% and 80% of total inside volume. Experimental results show that the thermal characteristics are significantly inter-related with pressure fluctuations as well as pressure frequency. And the pressure frequency also depends upon the evaporator temperature that is maintained in the range of 60-96 ℃. Piezoresistive absolute pressure sensor （Model-Kistler 4045A5） was used to take data. The investigation shows that the filling ratio of 60% gives the highest inside pressure magnitude at maximum number of pressure frequency at any of set evaporator temperature and the lowest heat flow resistance is achieved at 60% filling ratio.

Simulation of Heat Transfer in a Tubular Pipe Using Different Twisted Tape Inserts

This paper performs a simulation study of the heat transfer phenomena in a tubular U-loop pipe. We have investigated the enhancement of heat transfer with mass flow in a pipe without insert, with full length and short length twisted tape inserts. The length of the pipe is approximately 2436.80 mm long with 29 mm inner and 33 mm outer diameter respectively. A constant heat flux is taken which generated the boundary layer of the pipe close to the flowing fluid around the boundary. The simulations are considered for the stationary and the time dependent module for 35 seconds with different length of inserts. The comparisons are made among the results. We observed that the transfer of heat is enhanced significantly with the increase of the length of inserts inside the computational domain. We also found that, full length twisted tape inserts are more effective than comparing with the short length inserts and without insert.

Analysis of Heat Transfer of a Flat Plate Oscillating Heat Pipe, for Different Surfaces

Recent and constant demands for greater power densities and smaller sizes of electronic systems have stimulated the growth of new designs of different passive heat transfer methods such as heat pipes. Particularly, OHPs （Oscillating Heat Pipes） are relatively novel devices, capable of removing high heat rates over long and short distances with not much temperature drop. This study concentrates on the design, building and assembling a test rig in order to analyse the flow pattern ofdeionised water through a 5 turns flat plate oscillating heat pipe under different heat inputs, which was made in the school of engineering and materials science of the Queen Mary University of London by two energy M.Sc. students. The filling ratio of the water is 40%. Furthermore an experimental study on the OHP thermal performance is carried out in order to examine the effects of different surface wet conditions： super hydrophilic, hydrophilic and cleaned brass. It is demonstrated the formation of liquid slugs and vapour plugs of the water along the channels. The experimental results showed that the hydrophilic surface tends to be more energy efficient. The heat transfer performance of the super-hydrophilic and hydrophilic is higher than brass by 5-12% and 15-20% respectively.

Experimental Investigation of Loop Heat Pipe with Two Evaporators/Two Condensers under Thermal Vacuum Condition

Multiple loop heat pipe is a high-functional thermal transport device. This work was conducted to confirm the working performance of Multiple loop heat pipe under thermal vacuum ambience with the working fluid ammonia. Asmall multiple loop heat pipe with two evaporators and two ra- diators was designed and fabricated. Then thermal vacuum test was conducted. The heaters were fasten on both evaporators, both radiators, both compensation chambers. In the case that both evaporators were heated, the multiple loop heat pipe can transport 120/120 W for 1.5 m, in the case that only one evaporator was heated, evaporator 1 can transport 80 W for 1.5 m, while eva- porator 2 can transport 120 W for 1.5 m. Two flow regulators were installed near the confluence of liquid line to prevent uncondensed vapor penetrating into returning liquid when the tempera- ture difference exists between two radiators. In the case that the heat load at both evaporators were 40/40 W and one radiator was heated, the flow regulator1 can tolerate the 160 W of heat load which was supplied to radiator1 while the flow regulator2 can tolerate the 100 W of heat load which was supplied to radiator2. To demonstrate the multiple loop heat pipe’s startup behavior at lowheat load, each of the compensation chamber was preheated to change the initial distribution of liquid and vapor in the evaporator and compensation chamber, in the result, each evaporator can start up at 5W through preheating.

竖直铯热管传热特性的实验和数值模拟

近年来,有关中温铯热管的研究较少,主要因为铯热管造价昂贵且铯金属化学性质活泼,开展实验难度较大,因此通过数值模拟方法对铯热管启动特性与内部相变等过程进行分析预测具有重要意义。首先,本文开展铯热管冷启动实验,并基于目前的热管模拟模型,利用UDF建立蒸发与冷凝的自适应模型,对比实验热管稳态壁温与数值模拟计算壁温,最大温差小于20K,且较好地呈现了热管末端的温度突降,证明了模型的准确性。其次,基于竖直铯热管变功率冷态启动实验,模拟获得铯热管启动过程中热管壁面温度及内部工质相态分布的演变过程;并利用壁面温度的平均差数值评价有效长度上的均温性。最后,通过模拟研究改变热管蒸发段长度(200mm和120mm)、加热功率(1028.2W和844.4W)及充液率(8.8%、12%和15%),对比分析其相态分布、温度分布及压力分布;综合热管有效工作长度、壁面均温性、蒸发段液相堆积与干烧现象,分析蒸发段长度与充液率的最佳配比,为热管的优化设计提供基础。

脉动热管温度信号的小波分析及流型识别

脉动热管中的温度波动信号具有较复杂的瞬态波动特征,采用连续小波变换方法可以较好地分析此类信号特征。采用全玻璃脉动热管,在可视化实验基础上,应用小波分析方法,重点研究PHP温度振荡信号及流型识别。结果表明,采集频率、管壁材料以及热通量等会影响温度信号的主频值。当热通量较高(q=2.65~3.18 W/cm^(2))时,1 Hz的采集频率容易导致信号失真,应采用10 Hz及以上的采集频率。玻璃管的热惰性会导致温度信号失真,尤其在高热通量(q=2.65~3.18 W/cm^(2))时不可忽略。总体来看,随着热通量的增加,蒸发温度波动幅度减小、频率增加。当热通量从0.35 W/cm^(2)增加到3.18 W/cm^(2),流体温度信号的主频值从0.02 Hz增加到3.88 Hz。相应地,管内流型由弹状流逐渐向环状流转变,并出现单向大循环流。由管内流体温度信号求得的主频值可推广至铜管或其他金属材料的脉动热管,有助于识别其内部流型及流态变化,更好地理解其传热特性。

应用于新型环路热管的两相引射器数值模拟

环路热管是一种高效被动式相变传热装置,广泛应用于高热流电子器件散热等领域。前期研究发现将小型两相引射器与平板式环路热管耦合,可大幅提高传热性能。然而,小型两相引射器内部流动及传热机理尚不清晰,难以对新型环路热管进行正向设计与理论建模。通过数值模拟研究了汽水参数和混合腔结构对两相引射器性能及内部流场分布的影响。结果表明,喉部下游存在凝结激波,随着背压增加,其位置逐渐向喉部移动;其强度与背压、蒸汽产量、混合腔长度呈正相关,与水温呈负相关。引射器最大工作背压在40~125 kPa,与蒸汽产量和水温呈正相关,与混合腔长度呈负相关。通过大量模拟,得到了设计功率下水温和混合腔长度对引射器工作模式和压比的影响规律。

基于电池冷却用新型脉动热管性能的实验研究

提出一种电池冷却用C形脉动热管(pulsating heat pipe,PHP),具有较好的散热性和包裹特性。选择甲醇、丙酮、去离子水、乙醇和甲醇-丙酮混合物为PHP工质,实验研究了不同加热功率和充液率(filling rate,FR)工况下PHP的性能。结果表明,FR过高或过低均不利于C形PHP稳定运行,实际应用中需综合考虑热阻、传热极限等指标,选取合适的FR。实验研究范围内,C形PHP最佳FR在45%左右。综合考虑蒸发温度与热阻,甲醇-丙酮混合物C形PHP具备更好的性能,能够满足第二代Mirai电池冷却需求,可将其表面温度控制在84℃以下,允许的电池最大体积功率密度为6 kW/L。依据应用场合选择工质和布置方式后,PHP能保证受控对象的安全运行。相关结论为电池热控制系统设计提供了重要的参考和借鉴。

航天器用水热管冻结特性数值模拟研究

热管在空间探测工程中具有重要应用,是航天器的重要导热元件。文章通过引入毛细力动量源项的数值模拟方法,对水热管在设计工况和低功率工况下工作及可能的冻结过程进行数值模拟研究。结果表明:水热管在设计工况下工作时,蒸汽与液膜表面存在剪切作用,热管的温度沿轴向降低,轴向最大温差不超过3 K,具有良好的等温性。低功率工况下,热管冷凝段的温度降低至工质的熔点以下,工质冻结沉积,低温区逐渐扩散至冷凝段末端,冻结沉积最终将吸液芯完全堵塞,导致热管失效,不再具有良好的等温性能和传热性能。研究结果可为热管的长期稳定运行设计提供参考依据,为空间探测工程的成功保障提供科学参考。

土壤源热泵地埋管侧水系统优化运行研究

本文基于江苏无锡某典型厂房土壤源热泵空调项目的实测数据,以地源侧系统总能耗最低为目标,构建设备模型对地源水泵运行工况进行优化,并与两种传统控制策略的运行效果进行对比,据此提出进一步的优化建议。结果表明:基于负荷的优化控制策略,其节能效果要明显优于定频控制策略,冬夏季典型测试日平均节能率分别为28.33%和13.27%,相比于5℃温差变频策略节能了3.61%和2.21%。适当增大地埋管的埋管深度或管径,可以进一步提升该优化控制策略的节能效果。传统的定温差控制策略在负荷率大于60%时,可在5℃基础上将温差增加1~5℃以提升节能效果。

超薄空间复杂边界条件下气体流动压降实验

随着超薄热管等元件进一步超薄化,蒸汽腔厚度减小导致蒸汽流动压降急剧增大,传热热阻增加,传输极限降低。搭建了超薄受限空间气体流动压降实验装置,开展空气流动实验,获得了不同通道高度(0.1~0.5 mm)、不同表面丝网孔径(0.036~0.104 mm)和不同流速(1~10 m/s)下的压降变化。结果表明:通道高度和流速对压降产生显著影响,而表面丝网孔径并不会;3个影响因素按显著程度依次为通道高度、流速、表面丝网孔径;随表面丝网孔径的减小,压降逐渐增大;随通道高度的减小,压降先缓慢增大,在减至0.3 mm后压降开始剧烈上升;随流速的增加,压降增大且近似呈正比例变化关系。最后基于实验数据修正了微通道层流情况下沿程阻力系数相关性预测关联式,以便更准确地预测气体压降。

基于多物理耦合的高温热管流动传热和力学特性研究

研究高温碱金属热管内工质的流动、传热和力学特性,对热管冷却反应堆的安全具有重要意义。本文采用COMSOL Multiphysics有限元软件构建了高温碱金属热管的多物理耦合模型,针对热管内工质的流动传热特性以及管壁的热膨胀效应进行了数值模拟研究。结果表明:本文模型的计算结果与实验值的相对误差小于1%,可准确模拟高温热管的流动传热特性;在额定功率下,沿轴向的压力梯度和温度梯度较小,说明热管具有较好的等温性,但相比于冷态有最大1.75%的总形变;热管的传输功率提高会显著影响热管内工质的运行状态,同时加大热管的形变量。