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Modeling and simulation of heat pipes: review

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Abstract

Heat pipes have been extensively studied using various methods, such as MATLAB, AMESIM, and commercial CFD software. Early numerical models employed the thermal conductance approach, which oversimplified the characteristics and performance of heat pipes. Newer models comprise the thermal resistance model, which emphasizes two-phase heat transfer, AI-based approaches for predicting flow patterns and thermal characteristics, and the CFD model, which accounts for phase changes and two-phase flow utilizing the VoF and phase change models. Although the thermal resistance model demands fewer computing resources, it has limited visualization of the flow pattern and wick structure. In contrast, CFD models offer advantages in visualizing the flow pattern and thermal characteristics but have limitations in terms of consuming computing resources and considering heat transfer from wick structures and mass transfer rates caused by phase changes. Consequently, most simulations are validated with experimental results. Innovative approaches for phase changes in heat pipes and wick structures are necessary to address these challenges.

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Abbreviations

C 2 :

Inertial resistance factor

D h :

Hydraulic diameter, m

E :

Energy

F :

Correction factor

g i :

Gravitational acceleration, m/s2

h v :

Specific enthalpy of vapor, J/kg

h l :

Specific enthalpy of liquid, J/kg

h :

Convective heat transfer coefficient, W/m2-K

l v :

Latent heat of fluid, J/kg

\({{\dot m}_{l \to v}}\) :

Mass transfer rate from the liquid to vapor phase, kg/s

\({{\dot m}_{v \to l}}\) :

Mass transfer rate from the vapor to liquid phase, kg/s

Pr :

Prandtl number (dimensionless)

p :

Static pressure, N/m2

R th :

Thermal resistance, °C/W

Re :

Reynolds number (dimensionless)

S :

Correction factor

S h :

Volumetric heat source

T :

Temperature, °C

t :

Time, sec

u i :

Velocity tensor

\({\vec v}\) :

Velocity of fluid, m/s

\(\overrightarrow {{v_q}} \) :

Velocity of fluid in phase q, m/s

v :

Specific volume, m3/kg

x :

Quality

x i :

Direction tensor

α :

Permeability, H/m

α q :

Volume fraction of phase

λ l :

Thermal conductivity of liquid phase, W/m·°C

μ :

Dynamic viscosity, kg/m·s

ν :

Kinematic viscosity, m2/s

ρ :

Density, kg/m3

τ ij :

Stress tensor

cv :

Convective boiling

eff :

Effective

g :

Gas

i :

Liquid

LO :

Liquid only

NcB :

Nucleate boiling

th :

Thermal

TP :

Two-phase

sat :

Saturation

v :

Vapor

VO :

Vapor only

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (grant number: NRF-2022R1I1A3054588).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Korea

    Ji-Su Lee & Seok-Ho Rhi

  2. LS Electric Co., 1 Songjung-ro, Gyeonggi-do, 28439, Korea

    Sun-Kook Kim

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  1. Ji-Su Lee
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  2. Seok-Ho Rhi
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  3. Sun-Kook Kim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seok-Ho Rhi.

Additional information

Ji-Su Lee is Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Buk National University. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering, CBNU. His research interest is heat and mass transfer in heat pipe.

Soek-Ho Rhi is a Professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Chungbuk National University. He received his Ph.D. in University of Ottawa. His research interests are heat pipe, thermoelectric conversion, heat transfer, heat exchanger etc.

Sun-Kook Kim is currently a manager of global products R&D team, LS Electronic Co., Ltd. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Chung-Buk National University.

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Lee, JS., Rhi, SH. & Kim, SK. Modeling and simulation of heat pipes: review. J Mech Sci Technol 38, 2591–2612 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-024-0437-x

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