Experimental Investigation of a Pulsating Heat Pipe Using Ferrofluid (Magnetic Nanofluid)

Abstract

In this work, a four-turn pulsating heat pipe (PHP) is fabricated and tested experimentally. The novelty of the present PHP is the capability to obtain various thermal performances at a specific heat input by changing the magnetic field. The effects of working fluid (water and ferrofluid), charging ratio (40% and 70%), heat input (35, 45, 55, 65, 75, and 85 W), orientation (horizontal and vertical heat mode), ferrofluid volumetric concentration (2.5% and 7%), and magnetic field on the thermal performance of PHPs are investigated. The results showed that applying the magnetic field on the water-based ferrofluid reduced the thermal resistance of PHP in all orientations. In the presence of a magnetic field, the best thermal performance was achieved at the higher charging ratios (70%) in all orientations.