Operating Activity Visualization and Thermal Performance Measurement of Pulsating Heat Pipe

Abstract

Heat pipe is well known device which is used to heat transfer phase-change of working fluid. Pulsating heat pipe (PHP) is special type of heat pipe which heat transfer by pulsating movement of working fluid. Article deals about operating activity and thermal performance measurement of this special heat pipe. Operating activity visualization of PHP was performed with PHP made from glass. The two types of PHPs were made. The first PHP has internal diameter of tube 1 mm, second PHP has internal diameter of tube 1.5 mm and both PHPs have eleven meanders. The working fluids used in PHP were water and Fluorinert FC-72. These fluids were chose for their different thermo-physical properties and the visualization observe formation of liquid and vapour phase working fluid during filling process and working operation.Next, the article describes thermal performance measurement of PHP depending on working fluid amount and heat source temperature. Measurement was performed with PHP made from copper tube with inner diameter 1.5 mm curved to the twenty one meanders and filled with water. The results give us image about formation and distribution of working fluid in pulsating heat pipe and about influence of working fluid amount on the heat transfer ability of pulsating heat pipe.