Fabrication and Capillary Performance of Micro-grooved Wicks for Aluminium Flat-plate Heat Pipes

doi:10.3901/JME.2019.06.186

Abstract

Abstract: A novel micro V-grooves wick, fabricated by ploughing-extrusion (P-E) method and then surface treated by chemical machining, is developed for enhancing the performance of aluminium flat-plate heat pipes (AFHPs). Capillary rise tests with acetone are performed to characterize the capillary force of the wick structures. An infrared (IR) thermal imaging method is utilized to monitor the capillary rise processes. The effects of solution concentration and immersion time on the capillary force are investigated. Experimental results indicate that the capillary rise height of the etched aluminium grooved wicks is substantially higher than that of non-etched wick. The maximum capillary rise height of etched aluminium grooved wicks is 49.3 mm-an increase of approximately 79.3% compared to the one with no chemical machining. Additionally, the concentration and immersion time have a minimal effect on the capillary performance of grooved aluminium wicks when the concentration of CuCl₂ solution was more than 1 mol/L. All the results demonstrate that the combination of P-E process and chemical machining technology is a convenient and effective means to enhance the capillary performance of grooved aluminium wicks and the heat transport capability of AFHPs.

Key words: aluminum flat-plate heat pipes, capillary performance, grooved wick

CLC Number:

TK124

TANG Heng, TANG Yong, WAN Zhenping, LU Longsheng, WU Xiaoyu, LU Yanjun. Fabrication and Capillary Performance of Micro-grooved Wicks for Aluminium Flat-plate Heat Pipes[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2019, 55(6): 186-193.

References

[1] XU Y C,CHEN Q. Minimization of mass for heat exchanger networks in spacecrafts based on the entransy dissipation theory[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer,2012,55(19-20):5148-5156.
[2] KIM T Y,HYUN B S,LEE J J,et al. Numerical study of the spacecraft thermal control hardware combining solid-liquid phase change material and a heat pipe[J]. Aerospace Science and Technology,2013,27(1):10-16.
[3] ZHAO Y,CHANG S,YANG B,et al. Experimental study on the thermal performance of loop heat pipe for the aircraft anti-icing system[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer,2017,111:795-803.
[4] SONG H J,ZHANG W,LI Y Q,et al. Exergy analysis and parameter optimization of heat pipe receiver with integrated latent heat thermal energy storage for space station in charging process[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering,2017,119:304-311.
[5] ANDO M,OKAMOTO A,TANAKA K,et al. On-orbit demonstration of oscillating heat pipe with check valves for space application[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering,2018,130:552-560.
[6] PATEL V K. An efficient optimization and comparative analysis of ammonia and methanol heat pipe for satellite application[J]. Energy Conversion and Management,2018,165:382-395.
[7] 汤勇,唐恒,万珍平,等. 超薄微热管的研究现状及发展趋势[J]. 机械工程学报,2017,53(20):131-144. TANG Yong,TANG Heng,WAN Zhenping,et al. Development status and perspective trend of ultra-thin micro heat pipe[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering,2017,53(20):131-144.
[8] TANG H,TANG Y,ZHUANG B,et al. Experimental investigation of the thermal performance of heat pipes with double-ended heating and middle-cooling[J]. Energy Conversion and Management,2017,148:1332-1345.
[9] MCGLEN R J,JACHUCK R,LIN S. Integrated thermal management techniques for high power electronic devices[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering,2004,24(8):1143-1156.
[10] CAI Y,LI Z,ZHAI J,et al. Experimental investigation on a novel multi-branch heat pipe for multi-heat source electronics[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer,2017,104:467-477.
[11] VADAKKAN U,GARIMELLA S V,MURTHY J Y. Transport in flat heat pipes at high geat fluxes from multiple discrete sources[J]. Journal of Heat Transfer,2004,126(3):347-354.
[12] TAN B K,WONG T N,OOI K T. A study of liquid flow in a flat plate heat pipe under localized heating[J]. International Journal of Thermal Sciences,2010,49(1):99-108.
[13] 李红传,纪献兵,郑晓欢,等. 锥形毛细芯平板热管传热特性研究[J]. 机械工程学报,2015,51(24):132-138. LI Hongchuan,JI Xianbing,ZHENG Xiaohuan,et al. Study on heat transfer properties of flat heat pipe with conical capillary wicks[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering,2015,51(24):132-138.
[14] WANG C,LIU Z,ZHANG G,et al. Experimental investigation of flat plat heat pipes with interlaced narrow grooves or channels as capillary structure[J]. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science,2013,48(7):222-229.
[15] PENG H,LI J,LING X. Study on heat transfer performance of an aluminum flat plat heat pipe with fins in vapor chamber[J]. Energy Conversion and Management,2013,74(74):44-50.
[16] CHEN Y T,KANG S W,HUNG Y H,et al. Feasibility study of an aluminum vapor chamber with radial grooved and sintered powders wick structures[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering,2013,51(1-2):864-870.
[17] TAKE K,FURUKAWA Y,USHIODA S. Fundamental investigation of roll bond heat pipe as heat spreader plate for notebook computers[J]. IEEE Transactions on Components and Packaging Technologies,2000,23(1):80-85.
[18] HSIEH J C,HUANG H J,SHEN S C. Experimental study of microrectangular groove structure covered with multi mesh layers on performance of flat plate heat pipe for LED lighting module[J]. Microelectronics Reliability,2012,52(6):1071-1079.
[19] GO J S. Quantitative thermal performance evaluation of a cost-effective vapor chamber heat sink containing a metal-etched microwick structure for advanced microprocessor cooling[J]. Sensors and Actuators A Physical,2005,121(2):549-556.
[20] TANG Y,CHI Y,WAN Z,et al. A novel finned micro-groove array structure and forming process[J]. Journal of Materials Processing Technology,2008,203(1):548-553.
[21] 池勇,汤勇,陈锦昌,等. 微小型毛细泵环热控制系统及其制造技术[J]. 机械工程学报,2007,43(12):166-170. CHI Yong,TANG Yong,CHEN Jinchang,et al. Miniaturized capillary pumped loop heat controlling system and its manufacturing technique[J]. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering,2007,43(12):166-170.
[22] WANG P,YAN H,YONG T. Forming mechanism of integral serrated high fins by plowing-extruding based on variational feed[J]. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China,2010,20(3):400-404.
[23] WANG X,YONG T,PING C. Investigation into performance of a heat pipe with micro grooves fabricated by extrusion-ploughing process[J]. Energy Conversion and Management,2009,50(5):1384-1388.
[24] TANG Y,CHEN P,WANG X. Experimental investigation into the performance of heat pipe with micro grooves fabricated by extrusion-ploughing process[J]. Energy Conversion and Management,2010,51(10):1849-1854.
[25] DENG D,TANG Y,HUANG G,et al. Characterization of capillary performance of composite wicks for two-phase heat transfer devices[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer,2013,56(1-2):283-293.
[26] SONG J,XU W,LIU X,et al. Ultrafast fabrication of rough structures required by superhydrophobic surfaces on Al substrates using an immersion method[J]. Chemical Engineering Journal,2012,211-212(22):143-152.
[27] SONG J,XU W,LIU X,et al. Fabrication of superhydrophobic Cu surfaces on Al substrates via a facile chemical deposition process[J]. Materials Letters,2012,87(22):43-46.
[28] 宋金龙,徐文骥,陆遥,等. 电化学和化学加工法制备铝基体超双疏表面[J]. 机械工程学报,2013,49(5):182-190. SONG Jinlong,XU Wenji,LU Yao,et al. Research on electrochemical and chemical machining technology of superamphiphobic surfaces on Al substrates[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering,2013,49(5):182-190.
[29] TANG Y,DENG D,LU L,et al. Experimental investigation on capillary force of composite wick structure by IR thermal imaging camera[J]. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science,2010,34(2):190-196.
[30] TANG Y,TANG H,LI J,et al. Experimental investigation of capillary force in a novel sintered copper mesh wick for ultra-thin heat pipes[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering,2017,115:1020-1030.
[31] NAM Y,SHARRATT S,BYON C,et al. Fabrication and characterization of the capillary performance of superhydrophilic Cu micropost arrays[J]. Journal of microelectromechanical Systems,2010,19(3):581-588.
[32] HOLLEY B,FAGHRI A. Permeability and effective pore radius measurements for heat pipe and fuel cell applications[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering,2006,26(4):448-462.
[33] ESPINOSA F A D,PETERS T B,BRISSON J G. Effect of fabrication parameters on the thermophysical properties of sintered wicks for heat pipe applications[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer,2012,55(25-26):7471-7486.
[34] CASSIE A,BAXTER S. Wettability of porous surfaces[J]. Transactions of the Faraday Society,1944,40:546-7551.
[35] HUANG G,YUAN W,TANG Y,et al. Enhanced capillary performance in axially grooved aluminium wicks by alkaline corrosion treatment[J]. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science,2017,82:212-221.
[36] WENZEL R N. Resistance of solid surfaces to wetting by water[J]. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry,1936,28(8):988-994.