Research on Heat Transfer Performance and Optimization of Three-Dimensional Array Pulsating Heat Pipe

Abstract

The research of three-dimensional pulsating heat pipe is important for solving the rapidly increasing integration in the field of electronic heat dissipation. In this study, a novel three-dimensional array pulsating heat pipe (3D-APHP) with a planar structure was designed. The top and bottom of the 3D-APHP are mounted with flat plates, and the evaporation section and the condensation section are connected by several parallel array tubes. The effects of different conditions (working fluid, liquid filling rate, heating power, tube diameter and installation condition) on the start-up characteristics, heat transfer performance and uniform temperature performance of 3D-APHP were investigated. It is found that under the conditions of vertical installation, 3mm pipe diameter, deionized water and 20% liquid filling rate, the 3D-APHP has the lowest overall thermal resistance, good thermal conductivity, and the best uniform temperature performance. Meanwhile, the two-phase heat transfer process inside the 3D-APHP was analyzed mechanically to clarify the contribution of sensible/ latent heat transfer to the overall heat transfer. It is found that the length and speed of the vapor-liquid plug have great influence on the heat transfer process, and the uniform vapor-liquid plug distribution can significantly strengthen the thermal performance of the 3D-APHP.

Keywords: Pulsating heat pipe, Array Structure, Heat transfer performance, Flow mechanism