Numerical Study of Heat Pipes Effects to a 3-Dimensional Room With Natural Driven Ventilation

Abstract

A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software package is used to investigate numerically a 3-dimensional rectangular-box room installed with heat pipes heat exchanger (HPHE). Heat pipe heat exchanger utilizing refrigerant by mean of working fluid is installed on top of a room. The air-side heat transfer and the flow pattern of a thermo-siphon heat pipes is studied with a natural driven ventilation of a building. Different opening of the inlet and outlet air where the heat pipe was installed are tested with round edges opening as well as sharp edges. The standard RANS k–ε turbulence model is used. Results with different setting of heat pipe and opening characteristic, air flow rate and flow pattern as well as its temperature effects are examined.