Effect of Internal Flow Patterns on Heat transfer Performance of a Closed-end Oscillating Heat Pipe at Vertical Position

Abstract

This article describes the effects of varying bond numbers (Bo) and aspect ratios (Le/d) on flow pattern of a close-end oscillating heat-pipe (CEOHP). The CEOHPs used employed a glass tube with inside diameter of 3 mm. The length of evaporator of 100 and 150 mm (the lengths of evaporator adiabatic and condenser section were equal) were employed with 10 turns. Observation of the flow pattern was conducted at 90° from the horizontal plane, with bond numbers of 1.8 and 2.6 with aspect ratios of 33.3 and 50. R141b and ethanol were used as the working fluids with filling ratio of 50% of internal volume of tube. The evaporator section was heated by heater and the condenser section was cooled by distilled water. The working temperature was controlled at 50°C. The temperature at adiabatic section and the inlet-outlet of distilled water at condenser section were recorded. The photographs of flow patterns at specific times were recorded at evaporator section by a digital camera and video camera were used to observe the flow patterns at evaporator section condenser together with adiabatic section and total part of CEOHP. It was found that the maximum heat flux occurred with Le/d 33 and Bo 2.6 an inside phenomena occurred is a dispersed bubble flow and slug flow.