THE EFFECTS OF LIQUID-VAPOR COUPLING AND NON-DARCIAN TRANSPORT ON ASYMMETRICAL DISK-SHAPED HEAT PIPES

In this work a pseudo-three-dimensional analytical model is developed for the steady incompressible vapor and liquid flow in an asymmetrical disk-shaped heat pipe. The hydrodynamic coupling of the vapor and liq uid flow, the gravitational effects and the effects of non-Darcian tra nsport through the porous wick are incorporated in the model, and the variations in upper and lower liquid velocity and pressure distributio ns are accounted for. The asymmetrical vapor and upper and lower liqui d velocity profiles, the vapor and upper and lower liquid pressure dis tributions and the interface temperature distribution accounting for t he vapor-liquid coupling and the non-Darcian effects are obtained. The effects of the vapor-liquid coupling, upper and lower liquid velocity and pressure fields and boundary and inertia in altering the limiting heat pipe heat transfer performance are discussed and assessed. Final ly, the analytical results are compared with the available experimenta l data and are found to be in good agreement. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsev ier Science Ltd.