Investigation into the effect of transverse condudction on the thermal performance of a flat-plate pulsating heat pipe

Abstract

The effect of transverse wall conduction on the thermal performance of a flat-plate pulsating heat pipe (FP-PHP), whose channels are engraved on a flat-plate, is numerically investigated. For this, a numerical model for the FP-PHP that combines a one-dimensional slug/plug flow model for two-phase flow in rectangular channels with a three-dimensional heat conduction model for the solid wall is developed and experimentally validated. Using the proposed model, the effect of thermal interaction between adjacent channels on the thermal performance is numerically investigated. For quantitative examination, the difference in the thermal performance of the FP-PHP without thermal interaction and that of the FP-PHP with thermal interaction is compared for various wall materials, working fluids, and distances between adjacent channels. Finally, a criterion for assessing the importance of thermal interaction between adjacent channels in determining the thermal performance of the FP-PHP is provided: It is confirmed that thermal interaction has a significant influence on the thermal performance and should be taken into account when the Fourier number (Fo) is higher than 5 × 105.