Fast and Predictive Heat Pipe Design and Analysis Toolbox: H-Pat

Abstract

For the assessment of the thermal performance of heat pipes, a wide range of modeling is available in the literature, ranging from simple capillary limit analyses to comprehensive 3D models. While simplistic models may result in less accurate predictions of heat transfer and operating temperatures, comprehensive models may be computationally expensive. In this study, a universal computational framework is developed for a fast but sufficiently accurate modeling of traditional heat pipes, and an analysis tool based on this framework, named Heat Pipe Analysis Toolbox, in short H-PAT is presented. As a diagnostic tool, H-PAT can predict the fluid flow and heat transfer from a heat pipe under varying heat inputs up to the onset of dryout. During the initial estimation of phase change rates, the solutions of particular thin film phase change models are avoided by specifying an appropriate pattern for the mass flow rate of the liquid along the heat pipe rather than using finite element/volume based methods for the computational domain. With the help of a modular structure, H-PAT can simulate heat pipes with different wick structures as long as an expression for the average liquid velocity and corresponding pressure drop can be introduced. H-PAT is also capable of analyzing heat pipes with variable cross-sections, favorable/unfavorable gravity conditions and utilizes temperature dependent thermo-physical properties at evaporator, condenser and adiabatic regions together with heat input sensitive vapor pressure. In addition, H-PAT performs the computation very fast which also makes it a perfect design tool for researchers and design engineers in the field of thermal management.

Capillary boosting for enhanced heat pipe performance through bifurcation of grooves: Numerical assessment and experimental validation

“…The initial performance assessment has been carried out with a scaling analysis followed by a numerical model based on H-PAT, which is a computational framework developed by our group [36]. The thermal performance enhancement is assessed in terms of heat transfer capacity and evaporation performance via simulations.…”

“…Scaling analysis shows that branching grooves enhance both heat transfer capacity and evaporation performance. H-PAT [36] is modified to solve branching grooves by using pressure continuity at the branching point. Three different heat pipes are considered and simulated by using H-PAT to show the enhancement of the heat transfer capacity in this study.…”

“…Consequently, the potential of the fractal groove architecture has stayed partially overlooked. On the other hand, a recent analysis tool [36], named Heat Pipe Analysis Toolbox, in short H-PAT, enabled the simulation of grooved heat pipes under varying heat inputs up to the onset of dryout with short computational times. H-PAT accounts for the axial conduction and pool formation in the condenser, which was rarely incorporated in the models available in the literature, and thus, can realistically diagnose the operation of the heat pipe and offer design guidelines, accordingly.…”

Visualization and Heat Transfer Performance of Mini-Grooved Flat Heat Pipe Filled with Different Working Fluids

“…The system diagram of the visual and heat transfer experiments for the copper-based MGFHP is presented in Figure 2. The experimental system was composed of heat source, heat sink, measurement and data collection, vacuum pumping, and liquid filling parts [18,19]. The MGFHP was divided into evaporation, adiabatic, and condensation sections.…”