Experimental investigation of a large scale-oscillating heat pipe at different inclinations

Abstract

As a family of heat pipes, oscillating heat pipes have many additional unique operating parameters. This paper examined the heat transfer characteristics of an oscillating heat pipe that has an effective length (leff) of 500 mm and uses methanol as the working fluid. The effective length of 500 mm is not typically used in previous experimental setups. This structural dimension of the oscillating heat pipe is widely used as a heat recovery device. The heat pipe was tested with various heat supplies and inclinations. The results show that the inclination makes a substantial contribution to the heat transfer capability for large scale heat pipes. Decreasing the degree of inclination reduces the capability of the heat pipe in handling the heat load. Reducing the inclination also decreases the oscillatory motion, which is an obvious "heat carrier" from the evaporator to the condenser.