Experimental investigation into rotating loop thermosyphons for cooling shafts of motorized spindles

Abstract

Shaft cooling using loop thermosyphons is an ideal method for cooling motorized spindles. To investigate this application, it was necessary to investigate the heat transfer performance of loop thermosyphons while in a state of rotation. This paper describes cooling a shaft with a set of loop thermosyphons as its cooling structures. These thermosyphons’ designs are described and a series of experiments were conducted with liquid filling ratio ranging within 15% - 60% under 1000 r·min−1. The experimental results show that the optimal liquid filling ratio (FR) range of the rotating loop thermosyphons was 15%–45% and the thermal resistance would increase rapidly with FR when FR>45% under 1000 r·min−1.