A Novel Approach for Flow Analysis in Pulsating Heat Pipes: Cross-Correlation of Local Heat Flux

Naoko Iwata, Fabio Bozzoli (), Luca Pagliarini, Luca Cattani, Matteo Malavasi and Sara Rainieri
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Naoko Iwata: Department of Architecture and Engineering, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze 181/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
Fabio Bozzoli: Department of Architecture and Engineering, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze 181/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
Luca Pagliarini: Department of Architecture and Engineering, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze 181/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
Luca Cattani: Department of Architecture and Engineering, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze 181/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
Matteo Malavasi: Department of Architecture and Engineering, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze 181/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
Sara Rainieri: Department of Architecture and Engineering, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze 181/A, 43124 Parma, Italy

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-15

Abstract: Pulsating heat pipe is a promising two-phase heat transfer device that has many advantages such as a simple wickless structure and high thermal performance. Its thermal behavior is inherently time-dependent, and it can also be characterized by substantial spatial variations. However, there are few studies investigating the interaction or similarity of the local physical quantities, such as heat fluxes exchanged between the working fluid and the device wall in adjacent branches. In the present work, a new approach based on the application of cross-correlation analysis to local heat fluxes is proposed to deepen the understanding of the flow characteristics in pulsating heat pipes. The temperature distribution in the condenser of a seven-turn pulsating heat pipe was measured with an infrared camera, changing the power input. The local heat flux distributions were estimated by solving the inverse heat conduction problem in the tube wall. The cross-correlation of the heat fluxes at different positions of central and edge tubes in the condenser was analyzed. The result revealed the different trends in the cross-correlation depending on the power input: there were no clear cross-correlations in 0.5 W, while it was shown more clearly on the diagonal line with increasing power input to 2 W and 3.5 W because of the more activated flow throughout the heat pipe than that of the low power input. Moreover, the results of 3.5 W indicated a synchronized flow. It is suggested that the original approach presented in this work would lead to a deeper understanding of the chaotic fluid oscillation in pulsating heat pipes.

Keywords: pulsating heat pipes; infrared analysis; fluid oscillation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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