Flat-Plate PHP with Gravity-Independent Performance and High Maximum Thermal Load

Markus Winkler (), Marc Vergez, Andreas Mahlke, Mathias Gebauer, Phillip Müller, Christoph Reising, Kilian Bartholomé and Olaf Schäfer-Welsen
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Markus Winkler: Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Georges-Köhler-Allee 301, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Marc Vergez: Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Georges-Köhler-Allee 301, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Andreas Mahlke: Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Georges-Köhler-Allee 301, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Mathias Gebauer: Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU, Nöthnitzer Str. 44, 01187 Dresden, Germany
Phillip Müller: Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR, Fraunhoferstraße 20, 53343 Wachtberg, Germany
Christoph Reising: Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR, Fraunhoferstraße 20, 53343 Wachtberg, Germany
Kilian Bartholomé: Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Georges-Köhler-Allee 301, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Olaf Schäfer-Welsen: Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Georges-Köhler-Allee 301, 79110 Freiburg, Germany

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: In many energy-related applications, components with high heat loads, such as power electronics, play an important role. Pulsating heat pipes (PHPs) are an effective solution to deal with the increasing heat load of these components. In many real-life applications, the PHP must work against gravity and still be able to operate efficiently. However, the majority of present flat-plate PHP designs do not perform well under this condition. Therefore, this paper presents a flat-plate PHP with a conventional channel design optimized for gravity-independent operation. The PHP was capable of transmitting a heat output of 754 watts in all orientations, while the testing heater in use never exceeded a temperature of 100 °C. No indications of dryout were observed, implying that the maximum thermal load the PHP can handle is even higher. Additionally, three different condenser zone sizes were tested with the PHP. Previously published results indicated that there is a specific range of suitable condenser zone sizes, and performance problems will occur if the condenser zone size falls outside of this range. The findings from this work point in the same direction.

Keywords: pulsating heat pipes; oscillating heat pipes; cooling; heat transfer; thermal resistance; electronics cooling (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: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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