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Analysis of collapse in flattening a micro-grooved heat pipe by lateral compression

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Abstract

The collapse of thin-walled micro-grooved heat pipes is a common phenomenon in the tube flattening process, which seriously influences the heat transfer performance and appearance of heat pipe. At present, there is no other better method to solve this problem. A new method by heating the heat pipe is proposed to eliminate the collapse during the flattening process. The effectiveness of the proposed method is investigated through a theoretical model, a finite element(FE) analysis, and experimental method. Firstly, A theoretical model based on a deformation model of six plastic hinges and the Antoine equation of the working fluid is established to analyze the collapse of thin walls at different temperatures. Then, the FE simulation and experiments of flattening process at different temperatures are carried out and compared with theoretical model. Finally, the FE model is followed to study the loads of the plates at different temperatures and heights of flattened heat pipes. The results of the theoretical model conform to those of the FE simulation and experiments in the flattened zone. The collapse occurs at room temperature. As the temperature increases, the collapse decreases and finally disappears at approximately 130 °C for various heights of flattened heat pipes. The loads of the moving plate increase as the temperature increases. Thus, the reasonable temperature for eliminating the collapse and reducing the load is approximately 130 °C. The advantage of the proposed method is that the collapse is reduced or eliminated by means of the thermal deformation characteristic of heat pipe itself instead of by external support. As a result, the heat transfer efficiency of heat pipe is raised.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Yong Li, Ting He & Zhixin Zeng

Authors
  1. Yong Li
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  2. Ting He
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  3. Zhixin Zeng
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yong Li.

Additional information

This project is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos. 50975096, 51175186), Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No. S2011010002225), Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Planning Project of China(Grant Nos. 2010A080802009, 2010A011300022, 2011B040300020), and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(Grant No.2012ZZ0053)

LI Yong, born in 1974, is currently an associate professor at South China University of Technology, China. He received his PhD degree from South China University of Technology, China. His research interests include precision machining, heat pipe manufacturing, manufacturing system and the forming process.

HE Ting, born in 1986, is currently a master candidate at School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, South China University of Technology, China. His research interests include heat pipe manufacturing and manufacturing system.

ZENG Zhixin, born in 1953, is currently a professor at South China University of Technology, China. His research interests include metal cutting process and manufacturing system.

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Li, Y., He, T. & Zeng, Z. Analysis of collapse in flattening a micro-grooved heat pipe by lateral compression. Chin. J. Mech. Eng. 25, 1210–1217 (2012). https://doi.org/10.3901/CJME.2012.06.1210

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3901/CJME.2012.06.1210

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