EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE MAXIMUM HEAT-TRANSPORT IN TRIANGULAR GROOVES

An experimental investigation was conducted and a test facility constr ucted to measure the capillary heat transport limit in small triangula r grooves, similar to those used in micro heat pipes. Using methanol a s the working fluid, the maximum heat transport and unit effective are a heat transport were experimentally determined for ten grooved plates with varying groove widths, but identical apex angles. The experiment al results indicate that there exists an optimum groove configuration which maximizes the capillary pumping capacity while minimizing the co mbined effects of the capillary pumping pressure and the liquid viscou s pressure losses. When compared with a previously developed analytica l model, the experimental results indicate that the model cart be used accurately to predict the heat transport capacity and maximum unit ar ea heat transport when given the physical characteristics of the worki ng fluid and the groove geometry, provided the proper heat flux distri bution is known. The results of this investigation will assist in the development of micro heat pipes capable of operating at increased powe r levels with greater reliability.