Experimental study on the effect of various heat source configurations on the thermal performance of an axial swallow-tailed micro-grooved heat pipe

Abstract

An experimental testing station with the constant circular water-cooling system is assembled to study the heat transfer characteristics of an axial swallow-tailed micro-grooved heat pipe subjected to heating with discrete heat sources. Influence of different heat source arrangement under single and double heat source working condition on performance parameter of heat transfer are investigated. Experimental results indicated that the temperature of the existing heat source is apparently higher than the temperature of the non-existent heat source. The condensing section length affects the transient thermal response of heat pipe, and the steady wall temperature decreases with an increase in condensing section length. Different configurations of heat source will affect the maximum heat transfer capability of the heat pipe, and the maximum heat transfer capability is relevant to the distance between the heat source and heat sink. The smaller the distance between the heat source and the heat sink, the greater the maximum heat transfer capability of the heat pipe. If the heat pipe is not heated from the starting point, the heat pipe can enter a steady state when it reaches maximum heat transfer capability, but the temperature at the heat source is much higher than the normal working temperature. The temperature response in front of heat source is slower than that in other position when heat pipe is not heated from the initial end of evaporating section.