A Mathematical Model Predicting Heat Transfer Performance in a Oscillating Heat Pipe

Author(s):  
H. B. Ma ◽  
B. Borgmeyer ◽  
P. Cheng ◽  
Y. Zhang

A mathematical model predicting the oscillating motion in an oscillating heat pipe is developed. The model considers the vapor bubble as the gas spring for the oscillating motions including effects of operating temperature, non-linear vapor bulk modulus, and temperature difference between the evaporator and the condenser. Combining the oscillating motion predicted by the model, a mathematical model predicting the temperature drop between the evaporator and the condenser is developed including the effects of the forced convection heat transfer due to the oscillating motion, the confined evaporating heat transfer in the evaporating section, and the thin film condensation in the condensing section. In order to verify the mathematical model, an experimental investigation was conducted. Experimental results indicate that there exists an onset power input for the excitation of oscillating motions in an oscillating heat pipe, i.e., when the input power or the temperature difference from the evaporating section to the condensing section was higher than this onset value the oscillating motion started, resulting in an enhancement of the heat transfer in the pulsating heat pipe. Results of the investigation will assist in optimizing the heat transfer performance and provide a better understanding of heat transfer mechanisms occurring in the oscillating heat pipe.

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. B. Ma ◽  
B. Borgmeyer ◽  
P. Cheng ◽  
Y. Zhang

A mathematical model predicting the oscillating motion in an oscillating heat pipe is developed. The model considers the vapor bubble as the gas spring for the oscillating motions including effects of operating temperature, nonlinear vapor bulk modulus, and temperature difference between the evaporator and the condenser. Combining the oscillating motion predicted by the model, a mathematical model predicting the temperature difference between the evaporator and the condenser is developed including the effects of the forced convection heat transfer due to the oscillating motion, the confined evaporating heat transfer in the evaporating section, and the thin film condensation in the condensing section. In order to verify the mathematical model, an experimental investigation was conducted on a copper oscillating heat pipe with eight turns. Experimental results indicate that there exists an onset power input for the excitation of oscillating motions in an oscillating heat pipe, i.e., when the input power or the temperature difference from the evaporating section to the condensing section was higher than this onset value the oscillating motion started, resulting in an enhancement of the heat transfer in the oscillating heat pipe. Results of the combined theoretical and experimental investigation will assist in optimizing the heat transfer performance and provide a better understanding of heat transfer mechanisms occurring in the oscillating heat pipe.


Author(s):  
Nannan Zhao ◽  
Benwei Fu ◽  
Dianli Zhao ◽  
Hongbin Ma

The ultrasonic effect on the oscillating motion and heat transfer in an oscillating heat pipe (OHP) containing acetone was investigated experimentally. The ultrasonic sound was applied to the evaporating section of the OHP by using electrically-controlled piezoelectric ceramics. The ultrasonic sound is used to generate and maintain the oscillating motion, and, thereby, heat transfer is enhanced. The heat pipe was tested with or without the ultrasonic sound. In addition, the effects of heat load, filling ratio, orientation, operating temperature, and input power from 15 W to 200 W were investigated. The experimental results demonstrate that ultrasonic sound can affect the oscillating motions and enhance the heat transfer performance of the acetone OHP. In particular, the application of the ultrasonic sound on an acetone OHP can significantly reduce the thermal resistance of the acetone OHP and enhance the heat transfer performance in a low power input region. The investigation will provide an insight into the oscillating mechanism of the acetone OHP influenced by ultrasonic sound and provide a new way to enhance the heat transfer performance of the OHP.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 583
Author(s):  
Liping Zeng ◽  
Xing Liu ◽  
Quan Zhang ◽  
Jun Yi ◽  
Xianglong Liu ◽  
...  

This paper deals with the heat transfer performance of a micro-channel backplane heat pipe air conditioning system. The optimal range of the filling rate of a micro-channel backplane heat pipe air conditioning system was determined in the range of 65–75%, almost free from the interference of working conditions. Then, the influence of temperature and air volume flow rate on the heat exchange system were studied. The system maximum heat exchange is 7000–8000 W, and the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the evaporator and the condenser is almost 0 °C. Under the optimum refrigerant filling rate, the heat transfer of the micro-channel heat pipe backplane system is approximately linear with the temperature difference between the inlet air temperature of the evaporator and the cooling distribution unit (CDU) inlet water temperature in the range of 18–28 °C. The last part compares the heat transfer characteristics of two refrigerants at different filling rates. The heat transfer, pressure, and refrigerant temperature of R134a and R22 are the same with the change of filling rate, but the heat transfer of R134a is lower than that of R22. The results are of great significance for the operational control and practical application of a backplane heat pipe system.


Author(s):  
Lilin Chu ◽  
Yulong Ji ◽  
Chunrong Yu ◽  
Yantao Li ◽  
Hongbin Ma ◽  
...  

Abstract In order to understand the heat transfer performance, startup and fluid flow condition of oscillating heat pipe (OHP) with hydraulic diameter far exceeding the maximum hydraulic diameter (MHD), an experimental investigation on heat transfer performance and visualization was conducted. From the experimental performance, it is found that the OHP can still work well with ethanol as the working fluid when the tube diameter has exceeded the MHD of 91.6%. In addition, the detailed flow patterns of the OHP were recorded by a highspeed camera for vertical and horizontal orientation to understand its physical mechanism. In the vertical orientation, initially working fluid generates small bubbles, and then the small bubbles coalesce and grow to vapor plugs, the vapor plugs finally pushes the liquid slugs to oscillate in the tube. In the horizontal orientation, the working fluid surface fluctuates due to the vapors flow from the evaporator to the condenser and bubbles burst in the evaporator. When the peak of liquid wave reaches the upper surface of tube, a liquid slug has been formed, and then the steam flow pushes the liquid slugs to oscillate in the tube.


2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tingting Hao ◽  
Hongbin Ma ◽  
Xuehu Ma

A new oscillating heat pipe (OHP) charged with hybrid fluids can improve thermal performance. The key difference in this OHP is that it uses room temperature liquid metal (Galinstan consisting of gallium, indium, and tin) and water as the working fluid. The OHP was fabricated on a copper plate with six turns and a 3 × 3 mm2 cross section. The OHP with hybrid fluids as the working fluid was investigated through visual observation and thermal measurement. Liquid metal was successfully driven to flow through the OHP by the pressure difference between the evaporator and the condenser without external force. Experimental results show that while added liquid metal can increase the heat transport capability, liquid metal oscillation amplitude decreases as the filling ratio of liquid metal increases. Visualization of experimental results show that liquid metal oscillation position and velocity increase as the heat input increases. Oscillating motion of liquid metal in the OHP significantly increases the heat transfer performance at high heat input. The lowest thermal resistance of 0.076 °C/W was achieved in the hybrid fluids-filled OHP with a heat input of 420 W. We experimentally demonstrated a 13% higher heat transfer performance using liquid metal as the working fluid compared to an OHP charged with pure water.


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