Effects of gravity on gas-loaded variable conductance heat pipes
Abstract
The effects of gravity on the operation of gas-loaded variable conductance heat pipes was investigated. Experimental results were obtained for two heat pipes (1.6 cm and 5 cm diameter) operating with methanol as the working fluid and krypton or helium as the control gas. Results show that gravity tends to distort the axial temperature profiles on the small diameter pipe. For the larger diameter pipe gravity has the effect of causing a stratification of the working fluid and noncondensable gas. These results seem to indicate that in certain cases the presently available design procedure will have to be modified to account for the effects of gravity on variable conductance heat pipe operation.
- Publication:
-
Heat Pipes
- Pub Date:
- 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976hepi.rept..225K
- Keywords:
-
- Conductive Heat Transfer;
- Design Analysis;
- Heat Pipes;
- Performance Tests;
- Gas Flow;
- Gaseous Diffusion;
- Gravitational Fields;
- Helium;
- Krypton;
- Orientation;
- Temperature Control;
- Temperature Profiles;
- Thermal Conductivity;
- Transport Properties;
- Working Fluids;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer