A low cost, flexible pulsating heat pipe technology

Oguzhan Der, Marco Marengo, Volfango Bertola

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBNConference contribution with ISSN or ISBNpeer-review

Abstract

A novel flexible pulsating heat pipe technology (FPHP) is presented, which enables fabrication of flexible, lightweight and low cost heat transfer devices using thermoplastic materials (polypropylene). A flexible and lightweight PHP is advantageous for space, aircraft and portable electronic applications where the device weight is crucial. Although the thermal performance of thermoplastics is usually poor, this technology enables the creation of composite thermoplastic materials having a significantly enhanced thermal conductivity. The basic concept is to sandwich a serpentine channel, which is cut out in a polypropylene sheet and contains a self-propelled gas-vapour mixture, between two transparent polypropylene sheets, bonded together by selective laser welding. This results into a heat transfer device with a large surface and very small thickness (approximately 1.5 mm), which makes it suitable for many existing and future applications where thermal management is not possible using existing technologies. The thermal performance of FPHPs was characterised for different heat input levels; local heat transfer coefficients were estimated by measurement of the heat fluxes and the wall temperatures at different positions in the FPHP. Results showed that the effective thermal conductance of the FPHP was nearly three times higher than that of the material constituting its envelope.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 3rd Thermal and Fluid Engineering Summer Conference, TFESC 2018
PublisherBegell House, Inc.
Pages321-327
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9781567004724
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Mar 2018
Event3rd Thermal and Fluid Engineering Summer Conference, TFESC 2018 - Fort Lauderdale, United States
Duration: 4 Mar 20187 Mar 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Thermal and Fluids Engineering Summer Conference
Volume2018-March
ISSN (Electronic)2379-1748

Conference

Conference3rd Thermal and Fluid Engineering Summer Conference, TFESC 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityFort Lauderdale
Period4/03/187/03/18

Keywords

  • Pulsating Heat Pipe
  • Selective Laser Welding
  • Thermoplastic Material

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