VAPOR FLOW-ANALYSIS OF AN AXIALLY ROTATING HEAT-PIPE

The vapor flow in an axially rotating heat pipe has been numerically analyzed using a two-dimensional axisymmetric model in cylindrical coordinates. A parametric study was conducted for radial Reynolds numbers of 0.01, 4.0, and 20.0, and rotational speeds ranging from 0 to 2800 r.p.m. The numerical results indicate that the pressure and the axial, radial, and tangential velocities are significantly affected by the rotational speed and the radial Reynolds number. In comparison to non-rotating heat pipes, the radial pressure distribution is no longer uniform. Also, above a certain rotational speed, flow reversal occurs near the centerline of the heat pipe. The shear stress components in the axial and tangential directions at the inner pipe wall increase with the evaporation rate and the rotational speed. The magnitude of the shear stress components are highest in the condenser section. The results of this study will be beneficial in the prediction of the performance of axially rotating heat pipes.