Study on heat transfer characteristics of single-layer double-row pulsating heat pipe

Abstract

The structure and inclination angle of a pulsating heat pipe are critical factors influencing the heat transfer performance and operation mode. In this work, a single-layer double-row pulsating heat pipe is designed, and the start-up and heat transfer characteristics of pulsating heat pipe at limit angles (0?,90?, and 180?) are experimentally investigated. Also, the operation mode and heat transfer characteristics are studied through IR imager and temperature profiles. The study highlighted that the pulsating heat pipe has excellent operation characteristics in the limit angle. When the inclination angle is 0?, the double-row structure improves the start-up performance; at 90? inclination, the pulsating heat pipe starts the fastest, and the heat transfer resistance keeps the smallest in the whole test. When the inclination angle is 180?, the pulsating heat pipe has the best thermal sensitivity but weak working fluid flow capacity during operation.