Theoretical Realizability of Dream-Pipe-Like Oscillating/Pulsating Heat Pipe

Abstract

The state of the art of thermally self-excited oscillatory heat pipe technology is briefly mentioned to emphasize that there exists no oscillating/pulsating heat pipe (OHP/PHP) suited to long-distance heat transport. Responding to such conditions, this study actively proposes a newly devised conceptually novel type of OHP/PHP. In that heat pipe, the adiabatic section works as it were the dream pipe invented by Kurzweg. This striking quality of the proposed new-style OHP/PHP produces high possibilities of long-distance heat transport. To support such optimistic views, an originally planned mathematical model is introduced for feasibility studies. Hydraulic considerations have first been done to understand what conditions are required for sustaining bubble-train flows in a capillary tube of interest. Theoretical analysis has then been made to solve the momentum and energy equations governing the flow velocity and temperature fields in the adiabatic section. The obtained analytical solutions are arranged to give algebraic expressions of the effective thermal diffusivity, the performance index combined with the tidal displacement, and the required electric power. Computed results of those three are displayed in the figures to demonstrate the realizability of that novel OHP.