STATE-OF-THE-ART EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON LOOP HEAT PIPES

Abstract

The present study provides a concise overview of the main feature evolution of Loop Heat Pipe (LHP) designs, in particular on the evapora-tor/compensation chamber, based on experimental studies published between 1998 and 2010. It presents a synthesis of results on LHP performances at steady-state, and observations related to the LHP dynamic behaviours, as start-up or oscillating behaviours. The objective of this review is to gather as much information from the LHP experimental studies so as to provide a database, and thus promote the development of tools for understanding and predicting the LHP behaviors. The review shows some omissions in the LHP description and in the results presentation that makes these data difficult to use for further studies. This review should promote some coordination for future experimental works on LHP.