Author : G T Sawant and D S Patil

In this experimental study of heat transfer present the Investigation of thermal performance of heat pipe with fins attached at the condenser section. The material and working fluid used for heat pipe are of different kind. Heat pipes are constructed and the experiments are conducted to determine the surface temperature at steady and transient conditions, heat transfer rate, heat transfer coefficient for different boundary conditions at different input power in the evaporator section and cooling the condenser section by air. The experimental results show that the rate of heat transfer increases in the heat pipe after addition of fins in the condenser section. For Horizontal position acetone as working fluid is preferred due to its thermal efficiency increases with increasing power input. Copper is used as container material at low power input but if power input is more than 42 watt Stainless steel is preferred due to high thermal efficiency.

Keywords: Heat pipe, Heat transfer coefficient, sonic limit, entrainment limit, capillary force, thermal resistance