Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental Study On Gravity-effect for Startup Performance of High-Temperature Sodium Heat Pipe

  • Research
  • Published:
Microgravity Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The gravity-effect plays important factor on the startup and thermal performance of high-temperature heat pipes (HTHPs). But the results of past studies are quite different and confusing our perception. In this paper, a sodium HTHP is fabricated and experimented to study the gravity-assisted, horizontal and anti-gravity three modes on the startup behaviors and quasi-steady thermal performance. The HTHP is designed to Φ25 × 410 mm, two wraps of 100 mesh screen, and filling mass of 15 g sodium. The HTHP is tested at the inclination angle of 0°, 90°, -30° and -90°. The results show that no startup failures are found during all the three operating modes and the startup time for HTHP fully starting at different inclination angle is the same as 10 min. However, the gravity-effect cannot be ignored and plays important influence on the HTHP startup. Compared with the horizontal mode, the gravity-assisted mode (90°) is beneficial for the starting more favorably and decreasing the temperature difference between the evaporator and condenser after the startup. The anti-gravity working mode has a significant adverse effect on the temperature rise-rate of the HTHP condenser and increase the temperature difference after the startup in a large step as the inclination angle changed from 0°, -30° to -90°.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The data of this study are available from the authors upon request.

References

  • Ai, B., Chen, S., Yu, J., Lu, Q., Han, H., Hu, L.: Fabrication of lithium/C-103 alloy heat pipes for sharp leading edge cooling. Heat Mass Transf. 54, 1359–1366 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booa, J.H., Kimb, S.M., Kangc, Y.H.: An experimental study on a sodium loop-type heat pipe for thermal transport from a high-temp solar receiver. Energy Procedia 69, 608–617 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, Y., Faghri, A.: A numerical analysis of high temperature heat pipe startup from the frozen state. ASME J. Heat Transfer 115(1), 247–254 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S., Han, H., Shi, J., Lu, Q., Hu, L., Ai, B.: Applications of sodium/GH4099 heat pipes for nose cap cooling. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 31, 417–424 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faghri, A., Buchko, M., Cao, Y.: A study of high-temperature heat pipes with multiple heat sources and sinks: part I-Experimental methodology and frozen startup profiles. J. Heat Transfer 113, 1003–1009 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glass, D.E., Merrigan, M.A., Sena, J.T., Reid, R.S.: Fabrication and testing of a leading-edge-shaped heat pipe. NASA CR-98–208720 (1998)

  • Guo, Y., Su, Z.,  Li, Z., Wang, K.: The super thermal conductivity model for high-temperature heat pipe applied to heat pipe cooled reactor. Front Energy Res. (10) 819033 (2022)

  • Guo, Q., Guo, H., Yan, X.K., Ye, F., Ma, C.F.: Influence of inclination angle on the start-up performance of a sodium-potassium alloy heat pipe. Heat Transfer Eng. pp. 1–9 (2017)

  • Jang, J.H.: A study of start-up characteristics of a potassium heat pipe from the frozen state. NASA Contractor Report 189173 (1992)

  • Jung, E.G., Boo, J.H.:  Thermal numerical model of a high temp. heat pipe heat exchanger under radiation. Applied Energy 135, 586–596 (2014)

  • Laubscher, R., Dobson, R.T.: Theoretical and experimental modelling of a heat pipe heat exchanger for high temperature nuclear reactor technology. Appl. Therm. Eng. 61, 259–267 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, H., Liu, W.: Thermal-structural analysis of the platelet heat-pipe-cooled leading edge of hypersonic vehicle. Acta Astronaut. 127, 13–19 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Q., Han, H., Hu, L., Chen, S., Yu, J., Ai, B.: Preparation and testing of nickel-based superalloy/ sodium heat pipe. Heat Mass Transfer 53, 3391–3397 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthewsa, G.F., Nygrenb, R.E., Morganc, T.W., et al.: Testing of a high temperature radiatively cooled Li/Ta heat pipe in Magnum-PSI. Fusion Eng. Des. 146, 482–485 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niu, T., Zhang, Y., Hou, H., Wang, Y., He, D.: Properties of high-temperature heat pipe and its experiment. Acta Aeronautica Et Astronautica Sinica (in Chinese) 37(S1), 59–65 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponnappan, R., Boehman, L.I., Mahefkey, E.T.: Diffusion-controlled startup of a gas-loaded liquid-metal heat pipe. J. Thermophysics. 4: 332–340 (1990)

  • Poston, D.I.: The heatpipe-operated mars exploration reactor (HOMER). AIP Conference Proc. 552(797), 797–804 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu, W., Ai, B., Yu, J.: Precise differential mechanism, sodium charging equipment and heat pipe performance. Heat Pipe Science and Technology, an International Journal 5(1–4), 253–259 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu, W.: Progress works of high and super high temperature heat pipes, Developments in Heat Transfer, Chapter 25, ISBN: 978–953–307–569–3, InTech, 503–522 (2011)

  • Silverstein, C.C.: A feasibility study of heat pipe cooled leading edges for hypersonic cruise aircraft. NASA CR-1857 (1971)

  • Townsend, J., Kerrebrock, J., Stickler, D.: Experimental evaluation of a turbine blade with potassium evaporative cooling. J. Propul. Power 24(3), 410–415 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tolubinsky, V.I., Shevchuk, E.N., Stambrovsky, V.D.: Study of liquid-metal heat pipes characteristics at start-up and operation under gravitation, Proc. of 3rd International Heat Pipe Conference: Palo Alto, pp. 274–282. CA, USA (1978)

  • Wang, C., Zhang, L., Liu, X., Tang, S., Qiu, S., Su, G.H.: Experimental study on startup performance of high temperature potassium heat pipe at different inclination angles and input powers for nuclear reactor application. Ann. Nucl. Energy 136, 107051 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xue, Z.H., Qu, W., Xie. M.H.: High performance loop heat pipe with flat evaporator for energy-saving cooling system of supercomputers. ASME J. Heat Transfer. (142) 031901 (2020)

  • Yang, H., Wang, C., Zhang, D., Zhang, J., Tian, W., Qiu, S., Su, G.H.: Parameter sensitivity study on startup characteristics of high temperature potassium heat pipe. Nucl. Eng. Des. 392, 111754 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, L., Zhou, R., Jin, X., Ling, X., Peng, H.: Experimental investigate on thermal properties of a novel high temperature flat heat pipe receiver in solar power tower plant. Appl. Therm. Eng. 109, 610–618 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, P., Zhang, H., Xu, H., Shen, Y.: Restart characteristics of high-temperature sodium heat pipe. Proceedings of the CSEE 35(2), 404–410 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Z., Chai, X., Wang, C., Sun, H., Zhang, D., Tian, W., Qiu, S., Su, G.H.: Numerical investigation on startup characteristics of high temperature heat pipe for nuclear reactor. Nucl. Eng. Des. 378, 111180 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, J., Yuan, D.Z., Tang, D.W., Jiang, Y.Y.: Heat transfer characteristics of a concentric annular high temperature heat pipe under anti-gravity conditions. Appl. Therm. Eng. 148, 817–824 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the financial support from National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No. U21B2051), and the authors gratefully acknowledge the test helps from Wei LI and Chao LIU.

Funding

This work is supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China under grant number of U21B2051.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, Beijing, China

    Zhi Hu XUE, Bang Cheng AI & Wei QU

Authors
  1. Zhi Hu XUE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bang Cheng AI
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wei QU
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Survey, fabrication of heat pipe, experiment and data analysis, writing draft by Z.H. XUE; Conceptualization, methodology, project funded by B.C. AI; Design, guideline, review and revised draft by W. QU.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bang Cheng AI.

Ethics declarations

Ethics Approval

Not applicable.

Consent for Publication

Not applicable.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

XUE, Z.H., AI, B.C. & QU, W. Experimental Study On Gravity-effect for Startup Performance of High-Temperature Sodium Heat Pipe. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 35, 34 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-023-10056-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-023-10056-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation