This paper describes an experimental study of a flat-evaporator-type loop heat pipe (LHP) with wicks made from hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) porous membranes, which have small pore sizes but high porosity and permeability. To demonstrate the applicability of these membranes, the LHP was designed completely and fabricated, after which the performance was experimentally investigated under a 0.52 m anti-gravity condition at a constant heat sink temperature of 80 °C. Two types of membranes were used, possessing different pore diameters and permeabilities. The pore diameter and permeability of wick 1 were 0.44 µm and 2 × 10−14 m2, respectively, while wick 2 had a pore diameter and permeability of 1.40 µm and 5 × 10−14 m2, respectively. A special wick support was designed and fabricated to ensure contact between the wick and the groove fins and to prevent the shrinkage of the PTFE membranes. Pure water was used as the working fluid. The effect of the PTFE wick characteristics on the LHP thermal performance was investigated by measuring the temperature at each point and the compensation chamber pressure. The LHP achieved steady-state operation at heat loads up to 1000 W, with a minimum thermal resistance of 0.052 K/W. Wick 2, which had a larger pore size and higher permeability, exhibited better performance than wick 1. The LHP operating temperature decreased by 10 °C, and the thermal resistance decreased by approximately 20% between wick 1 and wick 2.
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April 2020
Research Article|
April 22 2020
Flat-evaporator-type loop heat pipe with hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene porous membranes
Special Collection:
Selected Papers from the 30th International Symposium on Transport Phenomena
Nguyen Phan
;
Nguyen Phan
a)
1
Department of Mechanical System Engineering, Nagoya University
, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 464-8603, Japan
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: phan.nguyen@mae.nagoya-u.ac.jp
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Noriyuki Watanabe (紀志 渡邉);
Noriyuki Watanabe (紀志 渡邉)
1
Department of Mechanical System Engineering, Nagoya University
, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 464-8603, Japan
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Yuki Saito (雄紀 齋藤);
Yuki Saito (雄紀 齋藤)
2
Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd.
, 3-1 Higashi, Komaki-shi, Aichi 485-8550, Japan
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Shota Hayashi (翔太 林);
Shota Hayashi (翔太 林)
2
Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd.
, 3-1 Higashi, Komaki-shi, Aichi 485-8550, Japan
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Naoki Katayama (直樹 片山);
Naoki Katayama (直樹 片山)
2
Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd.
, 3-1 Higashi, Komaki-shi, Aichi 485-8550, Japan
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Hosei Nagano (方星 長野)
Hosei Nagano (方星 長野)
1
Department of Mechanical System Engineering, Nagoya University
, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 464-8603, Japan
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a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: phan.nguyen@mae.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Note: This paper is part of the Special Issue from the 30th International Symposium on Transport Phenomena.
Physics of Fluids 32, 047108 (2020)
Article history
Received:
December 27 2019
Accepted:
April 01 2020
Citation
Nguyen Phan, Noriyuki Watanabe, Yuki Saito, Shota Hayashi, Naoki Katayama, Hosei Nagano; Flat-evaporator-type loop heat pipe with hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene porous membranes. Physics of Fluids 1 April 2020; 32 (4): 047108. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5143561
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