A Numerical Analysis of Vapor Flow in Concentric Annular Heat Pipes

Abstract

A numerical method based on the SIMPLE algorithm has been developed for the analysis of vapor flow in a concentric annular heat pipe. The steady-state response of a concentric annular heat pipe to various heat fluxes in the evaporator and condenser sections are studied. The fluid flow and heat transfer in the annular vapor space are simulated using Navier-Stokes equations. The governing equations are solved numerically, using finite volume approach. The vapor pressure and temperature distributions along a concentric annular heat pipe are predicted for a number of symmetric test cases. The vapor flow reversal and transition to turbulence phenomena are also predicted. The results are compared with the available numerical data and have shown good agreement in all cases. Therefore, the vapor flow model developed in this paper has shown good accuracy and convergence behavior in the range of low to moderate radial Reynolds numbers.