Gravitational effects on the operation of a variable conductance heat pipe.
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Authors
Owendoff, Robert Scott
Subjects
heat pipe
heat transfer device
gas loaded heat pipe
variable conductance heat pipe
heat transfer device
gas loaded heat pipe
variable conductance heat pipe
Advisors
Kelleher, M.D.
Date of Issue
1977-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
A variable conductance heat pipe, measuring 2.5 centimeters in diameter and 152 centimeters in length, was built. The heat pipe was operated in both the conventional and variable conductance modes to obtain experimental data concerning performance characteristics. The input electrical power was varied from 20 to 50 watts with the heat pipe placed in both the horizontal and vertical positions. Methanol and Freon 113 were selected as the working fluids; helium and krypton were the non-condensible gases. In the variable conductance mode, liquid crystals were used to observe qualitatively the temperature gradients occurring across the vapor-gas interface. Summarized performance data for the various operating conditions and graphs of the isotherms obtained from the liquid crystal data are presented.
Type
Thesis