Theoretical Model to Investigate the Heat Transfer Mechanism through a Heat Pipe with Graphene Oxide/Distilled Water as Working Fluid

Abstract

This study investigates heat transfer through a heat pipe by analysing the evaporation and condensation of working fluid (distilled water) in two parts of the heat pipe to find the phase change phenomenon. A computational methodology was developed to simulate the phase change processes and a thermal model was simulated to determine the spatial and temporal temperature profile of the heat pipe and phase change location. The velocity and location of the phase change in the evaporator and condenser sections of the pipe were calculated at each stage, as was the temperature across the domain. The thermal efficiency of the heat pipe was improved by adding graphene oxide nanoparticles at an increase of 15%. When nanoparticles were added to the distilled water, the time of the phase change phenomenon was reduced in the evaporator and condenser sections. The capillary property was enhanced when nanoparticles were deposited in the wall of the evaporator’s wick structure. The temperature distribution of the phase change phenomenon was evaluated via the evaporation and condensation processes and the location of the interface line in the two main parts of the heat pipe.