Optimization of Process Parameters of Helical Grooved Heat pipe Using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

Heat pipe is a special type of heat exchanger that transfers large amount of heat due to the effect of capillary action and phase change heat transfer principle .In this paper Empirical relationship was developed to predict the thermal performance of helical grooved heat pipe with DI water as a working fluid,in terms of heat transfer coefficient by incorporating process parameters i.e mass flow rates(m) of coolant(water),inclination angles(θ) of heat pipe and heat inputs to the heat pipe(Q). The process parameters were optimized by using Response Surface Methodology(RSM) in Design Expert software to attain maximum thermal performance .The maximum heat transfer coefficient of 6874.48 W/m2K was obtained under the optimized conditions of 0.03 kg/s of mass flow rate, 67.5o of inclination angle and 213 W of heat input.