Analyses of heat transfer limitations of radially rotating heat pipes for turbomachinery applications Conference

Cao, Y, Chang, WS. (1997). Analyses of heat transfer limitations of radially rotating heat pipes for turbomachinery applications .

cited authors

  • Cao, Y; Chang, WS

authors

abstract

  • Heat transfer limitations of radially rotating heat pipes for turbomachinery applications are evaluated analytically. It was found that the condenser limitation normally encountered in low-temperature rotating heat pipes no longer exists for the high-temperature heat pipes studied in this paper. When the rotating speed is very high, however, the vapor temperature drops due to the high centrifugal force may present a new heat transfer limitation for this type of heat pipe. Analytical calculations indicate that at a high rotating speed, the vapor temperature drop increases to a moderately high level. However, this temperature drop is still relatively small compared to the heat pipe operating temperature level. The entrainment limitation is also evaluated based on a miniature high-temperature heat pipe and at different rotating speeds. It is concluded that the miniature high-temperature rotating heat pipes studied in this paper are feasible for turbomachinery applications without encountering any serious heat transfer limitations.

publication date

  • January 1, 1997