Improved Thermal Switch Based on an Adsorption Material in a Heat Pipe

Markus Winkler, Jan Schipper, Christian Teicht, Patrick Corhan, Angelos Polyzoidis, Kilian Bartholomé, Olaf Schäfer-Welsen and Sandra Pappert
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Markus Winkler: Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Georges-Koehler-Allee 301, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Jan Schipper: Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Georges-Koehler-Allee 301, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Christian Teicht: Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer Strasse 7, 76327 Pfinztal, Germany
Patrick Corhan: Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Georges-Koehler-Allee 301, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Angelos Polyzoidis: Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer Strasse 7, 76327 Pfinztal, Germany
Kilian Bartholomé: Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Georges-Koehler-Allee 301, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Olaf Schäfer-Welsen: Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Georges-Koehler-Allee 301, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Sandra Pappert: Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer Strasse 7, 76327 Pfinztal, Germany

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-22

Abstract: For many applications, the possibility of controlling heat flow by “thermal switching” can be very beneficial. In previous work, we presented a novel approach for thermal switching using a water-loaded adsorbent as part of the evaporator of a heat pipe. The basic idea is that the adsorbent releases water upon exceeding a certain evaporator temperature and thus “activates” the heat pipe by providing the working fluid for thermal transport. In this work, we present an improved version of the heat switch. We found that an ordinary copper heat pipe (i.e., thermosyphon) with outer diameters common in heat pipe applications (10 mm) can be used as a base of the heat switch. The reversibility of the switching effect was proven. The location of heat input relative to the adsorbent position was optimized, leading to improved switching ratios of up to 36 as calculated from thermal resistance change between evaporator and condenser. Furthermore, the role of the insulation on thermal resistance and switching ratio was examined and found to be significant.

Keywords: heat pipe; zeolite; adsorbent; thermal switch; heat switch; thermal management (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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