Experimental Research On Heat Transfer Characteristics Of Nanofluids In Foam Metal Heat Pipe

As a highly efficient heat transfer component, heat pipe is becoming more widelyapplicated in every area of daily life and production. Scientists are mainly working on howto improve the heat transfer efficiency of heat pipe. Because of rapid development ofenhancing heat transfer technology, nanofluid and foam metal are paid more attention.Starting from the two core components: working fluid and capillary wick, which couldaffect the performance of heat pipe. This paper firstly shows the design and manufacturingof heat pipe. Then, a test beach is set up to test the heat pipe’s heat transfer performance.Several key parameters, including nanofluid, fluid absorption core on the heat transfercoefficient, heat transfer coefficient of condensation, heat resistance, the influence of thewall temperature distribution, are analyzed.Aiming to contrast test results, in this paper, two kinds of heat pipe working medium,including Al2O3nanofluid and deionized water, are chosen. Meanwhile, two kinds of wick,including copper Foam foam metal and copper screen mesh wick, are also chosen. Testparameters are as follows: firstly, heat pipe’s liquid rates are40%,50%,60%, respectively.Secondly, nanofluid concentrations are0.5%wt,1.0%wt and1.5%wt, respectively. Thirdly,evaporation heat power range from30W~140W, respectively, water cooling is chosen atcondensation.The test results are as following. Firstly, the liquid rate has distinct effect on the rate ofheat pipe’s heat transfer performance. Secondly, under this experimental condition, when theLiquid rate is50%, total thermal resistance is minimum, and heat transfer coefficient inevaporation and condensation heat transfer coefficient are both the highest. Comparing todeionized water, nanofluid can significantly strengthen heat pipe’s heat transfer performance.However, when the concentration is over0.5%wt, the heat transfer coefficient decreases,and the heat pipe heat transfer performance began to decline. Compared to the silk screentube, foam metal heat pipe is superior in the startup performance and isothermal.Furthermore, foam metal heat pipe has less total thermal resistance and greater heat transferlimit.