Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Supervisor

DeGroot, Christopher

2nd Supervisor

Savory, Eric

Co-Supervisor

Abstract

Thermosyphons are enhanced heat transfer devices that can continuously transfer very large amounts of heat rapidly over long distances with small temperature differences. The high heat transfer rate is achieved through simultaneous boiling and condensation of the working fluid and the continuous heat transfer is achieved through recirculation of the working fluid in its liquid and vapor phase. A potentially important application of the thermosyphons has been towards reducing the cycle times of the mold cooling processes which would provide economic incentives to the automotive industry.

Different operational and geometrical parameters such as the input heating power, fill ratio (FR), aspect ratio (AR) and orientation influence the thermodynamic state of the working fluid and the boiling and condensation thermal resistances. The goal of the present work is to develop a more rigorous understanding of the thermal performance of thermosyphons as a function of their design parameters and operating conditions.

A thermodynamic model is developed to predict the thermodynamic state of the working fluid and its related properties inside a thermosyphon and heat pipe at each stage of the thermodynamic cycle. The model can predict the operating temperature of a thermosyphon and a heat pipe under a given geometrical and operating condition.

The existing predictive heat transfer correlations for estimating the boiling and condensation thermal resistances for thermosyphons are inadequate and lack consistency. Using non-dimensional analysis based on the Buckingham-pi theorem, a series of analytical expressions capable of predicting the boiling and condensation thermal resistance under different operational parameters are developed.

The thermal performance of ten distilled-water copper thermosyphons is experimentally investigated by varying the input heating power between 6.68 [W] and 32.98 [W], fill ratio between 0.35 - 0.75 and aspect ratio between 5.33 and 12.43 to understand the relationship between these operating parameters and the boiling and condensation thermal resistances.

The present experimental data when compared to the new thermal resistance expressions showed excellent agreement (± 15%). The previous experimental data, however, showed a slightly worse agreement (± 30%), which could be attributed to the overall energy balance and the uncertainties in the reported fill ratio. The results from this work can be useful for selecting thermosyphons for specific applications and optimize the existing design of thermosyphons.

Summary for Lay Audience

Thermosyphons (heat pipes), resembling copper pipes, have the ability to rapidly transport heat (250 times that of regular copper pipes) from one location to another within a short period. Thermosyphons are used extensively in automotive mold manufacturing, heating ventilation and air-conditioning, and spacecraft applications for thermal management.

The device combines the effects of both conduction and phase-change heat transfer to achieve very high heat transfer rates. The present work aims to investigate the thermal performance of thermosyphons under different operating conditions encountered in various thermal system engineering applications. These conditions include variable dimensions (length and diameter of the thermosyphons), different working fluids and different orientations required in various engineering scenarios.

The study focuses on predicting an optimal combination of various operating to achieve the desired heat transfer rate. Both analytical methods and experiments are used to investigate the current problem.

The optimized thermosyphon thermal performance could serve as an effective solution to many thermal management problems, reducing the financial costs for heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) and mold technology companies in Canada.

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