Al-Rafidain Engineering Journal (AREJ)

Abstract

Abstract
A mathematical model was set up to find the heat transfer coefficient in a heat pipe with a grooved wick structurehaving axial capillaries of different cross sectionsthroughproducinga considerable capillary pressure forced and hydraulic drag. From this viewpointa model is developed and solved analytically to estimate the heat pipe performance. A different geometry groove shapesin the inside surface ofa heat pipe are designed. From the proposed model, numerical optimization is performed to enhance the thermal performance of the heat pipe for measuring the maximum heat transport rate. The exact pressure drop and the temperature drop calculations were performed using finite element modeling by Ansys program.Also, in the present studycomparison between various geometry groove shapeswith same depth (circular, trapezoidal and rectangular) at constant wall heat flux condition is made including the effect of the groove shapes on the heat transfer characteristics in a turbulent tube flow( Reynolds number range 5000–15000).The analytical result for the maximum heat transport rate wasobtained when the geometry is circular whilethe rectangular grooved pipe is decreased by (20) % in comparison with the circular grooved pipes.
Key Words: Heat pipes,wick structure,groove.