AN EXPERIMENTAL-VERIFICATION OF A CONCEPTUAL HEAT-PIPE RADIATOR

The radiator and its vulnerability to damage is one of the main criter ia in automotive design. This study employed heat pipes in simulated r adiators to transfer waste heat to the surrounding environment. A smal l-scale heat-pipe radiator module was designed using a computer progra m. Experimental tests were performed on this module to validate the de sign methodology and to study the vulnerability characteristics. The t ests were conducted for a wide range of operating parameters such as a ir velocity, coolant flow rates, and the number of heat pipes damaged. The study indicated that a heat-pipe radiator may provide the necessa ry ''limp home'' capability to a vehicle, even with 50 percent of the pipes damaged. Also, with the radiators operating at less than peak lo ad (slower vehicle speed), the undamaged heat pipes substantially comp ensated for the damaged heat pipes, adding to the reliability of the s ystem.