Neutron Imaging of Oscillating Heat Pipes

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:00:00 -0500

The right panel of Fig. 1 shows a neutron image of an OHP, while it is operating. At the NIST Center for Neutron Research in Gaithersburg, MD, Ma and Winholtz’s team can obtain neutron images at a rate of 30 times a second to record a video of the fluid motions inside the OHP. In this way, they have gained a much-improved understanding of the fluid movement and heat transfer mechanisms. These experimental observations are being used to improve mathematical models of the OHPs that will allow design of OHPs with better thermal conductance. In Fig. 2, IGERT trainee, Feng (Tom) Zhang, demonstrates a conventional heat pipe at an Engineering Open House at the University of Missouri. Zhang won the prize for best lab presentation at the Open House. References:
1. I. Yoon, H. B. Ma, and R. A. Winholtz, “Effects of Liquid Fraction and Vapor Volume on the Oscillating Temperature in an Oscillating Heat Pipe Using Neutron Imaging,” Heat Transfer Research 44, 43-57 (2013). 2. C. D. Smoot, H. B. Ma, R. A. Winholtz, D. L. Jacobson, D. S. Hussey, “Thermal and Visual Observation of a Hybrid Heat Pipe,” Heat Transfer Research 44, 31-42 (2013).