Experimental investigation on the effect of nanofluid on the thermal performance of symmetric sintered U shaped heat pipe

Abstract

In this study, the impact of Entrance Power and Silver nanofluid concentration (with base fluid ethanol and DI-water) on heat pipe thermal performance are considered. In order to reach the aim a U-shaped sintered heat pipe is utilized which causes occupied space to decline. The length of the heat pipe is 135 mm in each branch. On account of recognition the effect of working fluid on heat pipe thermal performance, thermal resistance and overall heat transfer coefficient in base working fluid and nano-colloidal silver are measured in the shape of thermosyphon. The working fluid is with volume percentages of 70 ethanol and 30 distilled water. The average size pertaining to the nanoparticle applied is 40 nm. In addition, the influences of nanofluid concentrations are measured by comparing three concentrations 0.001, 0.005, 0.1 vol%. The range of entrance power is from 10 to 40 W and the temperature of coolant has been changed from 20 to 40 °C. The results of the experiment indicate that by increasing entrance power, the temperatures of the condenser, evaporator and working temperature experience a rise. Furthermore, this causes a decrease of thermal resistance and an increase of overall heat transfer coefficient. A comparison of three concentrations reveals that in concentration of 50 ppm, thermal resistance compared to the base fluid has decreased to 42.26 % and overall heat transfer coefficient has gone up to 1883 (W/m2·°K) . Also, due to unexpected changes in concentration of 1000 ppm, the existence of an optimized concentration for the silver nanofluid in this heat pipe with this geometry has been clear.