INVESTIGATION OF HEAT-TRANSFER ON THE DOWTHERM-A GRAVITY ASSISTED HEAT-PIPE

An experimental study on heat transfer performance of a gravity-assist ed heat pipe is described. Dowtherm A has been used as working fluid. The effect of fill ratio, inclination angle, heat length ratio, and th ermal resistance on the rate of heat flow were investigated. Finding a dependence of the maximum rate of heat flow on the first two paramete rs, a corresponding numerical correlation has been formulated. The for ce of viscosity shear and the force of momentum transfer during the co ndensation have been accounted for, and, with a theoretical analysis a nd a numerical solution, a mean heat transfer coefficient in the conde nsation section is given.