Effects of the Mass of Working Fluid on the Thermal Performance of Heat Pipe with Axial Grooves

An analytical and experimental study of the thermal performance of axial heat pipe with axial groove is conducted to determine the optimal mass of working fluid for the maximum heat transport capacity of heat pipe with axial grooves. Generally, the mass of working fluid has been fully charged by considering only a geometrical shape of axial grooves embedded in a heat pipe. When the heat pipe is operated in a steady state, the meniscus re-cession phenomena of working fluid is occurred in the evaporator region. In this work, the optimal mass of working fluid was obtained from the axial variation of capillary pressure, the radius of curvature and wetting angle of meniscus of liquid-vapor interface. Experimental results were also obtained by varying the mass of working fluid within a heat pipe, and presented for the maximum heat transport capacity corresponding to the operating temperature and the elevation of heat pipe. Finally, the analytical results of the optimal mass of working fluid were compared with those of the experimental mass of working fluid.