Thermal Characterization of Potassium Heat Pipe Using High-Temperature Calorimetry Method Based on Evaporative Weighing

Abstract

In the characterization of high-temperature heat pipes, the measurement of heat transfer is a key technical issue that needs attention. In the present experimental research on high-temperature heat pipe using potassium as the working fluid, it was noted that the gas-gap-based calorimeters have some problems, such as difficulty in experiment, low test performance, and irreversible damage to the measured high-temperature heat pipe. In this study, a high-temperature calorimeter based on evaporation weighing method was designed and built to solve the aforesaid issues. Further, the heat transfer performance of potassium heat pipe under different heating power, inclination angles and cooling methods were tested. In the experiment, a 1000 mm long potassium heat pipe was heated at a heating power of 0-3000 W, the inclination angle was changed, to test the heat transfer performance of the heat pipe. The results showed that the high-temperature calorimeter method based on evaporation weighing would provide simple and convenient way for heat pipe evaluation without destroying the structure or system of the heat pipe.