Visual experimental study on flat-plate pulsating heat pipe with double condensers

Abstract

In the present study, a visual experiment is performed to investigate the thermo-hydrodynamic characteristics of the flat-plate pulsating heat pipes (FPPHP) with double condensers. The operating performance of a FPPHP with double condensers is compared to that of a typical FPPHP with a single condenser. The results indicate that the FPPHP with double condensers exhibits higher imbalance pressure difference between its condensers and evaporator, leading to an enhanced oscillation frequency of the internal gas–liquid plug, which expands the working range of this FPPHP and at the same time significantly reduces thermal resistance. With power inputs ranging from 60 W to 720 W, its thermal resistance ranges from 0.12 K/W to 0.04 K/W, a decrease of 12 % to 46.9 % compared to that with a single condenser. The mechanism of the influences of temperature of the condensing side and length ratio of the two condensers on the operating performance of the FPPHP with double condensers is studied. The experimental results show that the FPPHP with symmetrical double condensers (i.e., in equal cooling areas) has better temperature uniformity and wider operating range than that with asymmetric double condensers in the same cooling areas. Hence, this research has important implications for the design of high-power electronics cooling and thermal management in confined spaces.