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An investigation of oscillating motions in a miniature pulsating heat pipe

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Abstract

A mathematical model for predicting the oscillating motion in a pulsating heat pipe is presented. The model considers the thermal energy from the temperature difference between the evaporator and condenser as the driving force for the oscillating motion, which will overcome both the frictional force and the force due to the deformation of compressible bubbles. The results show that the oscillating motion depends on the temperature difference between the condensing section and evaporating section, the working fluid, the operating temperature, the dimensions, and the filled liquid ratio. The results of this investigation will assist in the development of miniature pulsating heat pipes capable of operating at increased power levels.

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Abbreviations

A :

cross-sectional area (m2)

D :

diameter (m)

f :

friction factor, dimensionless

g :

gravitational acceleration (m/s2)

h fg :

latent heat of vaporization (kJ/kg)

L :

length (m)

m :

mass (kg)

p :

pressure (N/m2)

P :

perimeter (m)

R :

gas constant (J/kg K)

Re :

Reynolds number, dimensionless

T :

temperature (K)

x :

coordinate (m)

μ :

viscosity (N s/m2)

ρ :

density (kg/m3)

τ :

time (s)

τ s :

shear stress (N/m2)

Φ :

filled liquid ratio, i.e., the liquid volume divided by the total volume

ω :

frequency (rad/s)

a:

adiabatic

c:

condensing, condenser

e:

evaporating, evaporator

f:

fluid

h:

hydraulic

l:

liquid

max:

maximum

min:

minimum

s:

surface

t:

total

v:

vapor

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the DARPA/MTO HERETIC program under contract no. F33615-99-C-1443.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    H. B. Ma & M. A. Hanlon

  2. Applied Computational Physics, Rockwell Science Center, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91358, USA

    C. L. Chen

Authors
  1. H. B. Ma
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  2. M. A. Hanlon
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  3. C. L. Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. B. Ma.

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Ma, H.B., Hanlon, M.A. & Chen, C.L. An investigation of oscillating motions in a miniature pulsating heat pipe. Microfluid Nanofluid 2, 171–179 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-005-0061-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-005-0061-8

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