Development and testing multiple evaporator loop heat pipe utilizing three way T port valve

Abstract

The feasibility and the performance of Multiple Evaporator Loop Heat Pipe (MELHP) has been developed and tested as a robust device for a thermal management system. Aside from the ability to cool multiple heat sources, MELHP also had a built-in function that was known as heat load sharing. This research utilized three-way T port valves on loop heat pipe with two evaporators and one condenser in order to adjust a loop whether using one evaporator or two evaporators. Using modified commercial PTFE as a wick material, MELHP was tested by applied heat load to evaporators in 3 configurations. The test was conducted by applying heat load into the evaporator until the loop reached the maximum temperature, which is 70 °C. It was found that there were some interesting phenomenon between the loop heat pipe with two evaporators (MELHP) and one evaporator (LHP) in matters of heat transport capability.