Experimental analysis of a high temperature water heat pipe for thermal storage applications

• Published in: Thermal science and engineering progress 2020-10, Vol.19, p.100564, Article 100564
• Main Authors: Werner, Thomas C., Yan, Yuying, Mullen, David, Halimic, Elvedin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boiling limit; Capillary limit; Experimental thermodynamics; Heat pipe; Thermal management; Thermal storage
• ISSN: 2451-9049; 2451-9049
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2020.100564

•Water heat pipe experimental analysis at high temperature.•Boiling and capillary limit determination and quantification.•Heat pipes for thermal storage application.•Copper alloy heat pipes. Heat pipes spanning the 300 °C to 500 °C temperature range are still under research and development stage. Monel/water heat pipes have been previously explored as an option for operation up to 300 °C. Life tests of up to 30,000 h have shown good compatibility at 250 °C. The author explores the performance of a heat pipe using a different copper/nickel alloy with water as the working fluid at temperatures above 280 °C. The performance of these water heat pipes at the upper limit of their operational temperature range in the horizontal position is highlighted and compared against numerical calculations of the heat pipe boiling limit. The use of these heat pipes in the context of thermal storage applications is also briefly explored.