A Study on the Performance Characteristics of a Heat Pipe Combined with PCM

상변화 물질을 조합한 히트파이프의 성능 특성에 관한 연구

This study deals with performance characteristics of heat pipe combined with a solid-liquid phase change material(PCM). The outer diameter of the heat pipe was 9.5 mm and the total length was 600 mm, where the evaporator, the adiabatic section and the condenser lengths were equally 200 mm. A paraffin wax having a melting point of 58.5$^{\circ}C$ was used as PCM. The paraffin container was attached to the adiabatic section of the heat pipe. The paraffin container had outer diameter of 18 mm, wall thickness of 1.2 mm and the total length of 100 mm. The heat pipe was tested with tilt angle of horizontal degree and favorite angle 10 degree, with evaporator lower position to provide stable operation of the heat pipe. Input thermal load was varied from 40 W, with increment of 40 W, to above 100 W until the maximum temperature of the heat pipe wall reached 200$^{\circ}C$. Test results of the PCM heat pipe were presented in comparison with conventional heat pipe of the same basic dimensions. The performance was analyzed in terms of temperature distribution, thermal resistance and heat transport capability.