A visualization study on flat plate heat pipe (FPHP)

With the aim to analyze the flow pattern and heat transfer characteristics of the working fluid in a flat plate heat pipe (FPHP) which was sealed by a transparent tempered glass plate, ethanol, acetone, and R141b were taken as the working medium, and visual experiments were performed at different heat flux when the inclination angle was 90°. The vapor-liquid distribution and the heat transfer characteristics of the FPHP were investigated at different liquid filling ratios. According to the experimental results and the recording of high-speed cameras, some important conclusions had been drawn as follows: (i) As the power increases, the vapor-liquid interface in the FPHP declines and the effects of dryout is significantly intnsified, leading to a sharp increase in temperature. The FPHP with a filling ratios of 25.7% owns better thermal performance than that with the filling ratios of 11.8% and 66% at different heating power; (ii) the bubble generation inside the FPHP became more intense with increasing heat flux, and various bubble movement patterns were found at different the liquid filling ratios; (iii) As the liquid film flowed downward, the thickness of the liquid film increased at first and then decreases. The condensation of steam was reduced due to the thickening of the liquid film on the wall. The liquid film became thinner when it was entrapped and evaporated in the downward flow.