Effect of Condenser Temperature on Pulsating Heat Pipe Performance

Pulsating heat pipes (PHPs) excel at transferring heat efficiently over a small area. As electrical components continue to miniaturize, heat flux is increasingly important in thermal management. In this work, the effect of condenser temperature in a PHP was explored. Significantly reduced thermal resistance in the PHP was achievable by increasing the condenser temperature. It was found that for a given heater input, the evaporator temperatures with a 30°C condenser temperature were lower than with a 20°C condenser temperature. It is hypothesized that this is the result of more favorable fluid properties (viscosity and vapor pressure) at those temperatures. It is therefore possible, in some cases, to reduce the temperature of the device being cooled by placing the condenser in a warmer environment.