Computational Investigation: CFD guide for the Evaporation process in Heat Pipe

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20535/2521-1943.2025.9.2(105).328619

Keywords:

Temperature Distribution, Heat Pipes, Computational Fluid Dynamics CFD, Evaporation Process, ANSYS Fluent

Abstract

Heat pipes are crucial in various industrial applications owing to their superior heat transfer properties and their improvement of thermal management systems. This work introduces a two-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation to examine the temperature distribution and phase change processes occurring during evaporation in a heat pipe. ANSYS Fluent is employed to create the 2D heat pipe shape and produce an optimal computational mesh. A k-ɛ turbulence model is utilized to characterize fluid flow behavior, and nanorefrigerant (Al2O3/R11) is designated as the working fluid. Simulation results indicate a substantial temperature differential in the evaporator portion, as well as the impact of heat flow and wick construction on thermal resistance. The CFD results offer significant insights for optimizing heat pipe design and a comprehensive comprehension of the evaporation process, which is a consequence of phase change. 

 

References

  1. D. K. Ahmed and R. A. Mahmood, “The Evaporation Process in a Heat Pipe: A Review Study”, Technium, vol. 26, pp. 44–58, Jan. 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.47577/technium.v26i.12168 .
  2. H. Jouhara et al., “Heat pipe based systems-Advances and applications”, Energy, Vol. 128, pp. 729–754, 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.04.028 .
  3. R. A. Mahmood et al., “CFD numerical and experimental investigation of two-phase flow development after an expansion device in a horizontal pipe”, Journal of Thermal Engineering, Vol. 7(1), pp. 307–323, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.18186/thermal.850672 .
  4. R. A. Mahmood et al., “Two-Phase Flow Development of R134a in a Horizontal Pipe: Computational Investigation”, Interna-tional Journal of Heat & Technology, Vol. 39(5), 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.18280/ijht.390515 .
  5. K. Shukla, “Heat pipe for aerospace applications–an overview”, Journal of Electronics Cooling and Thermal Control, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2015, doi: https://doi.org/10.4236/jectc.2015.51001 .
  6. T. Höhne, “CFD simulation of a heat pipe using the homogeneous model”, International Journal of Thermofluids, Vol. 15, p. 100163, 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2022.100163 .
  7. B. Fadhl, L. C. Wrobel, and H. Jouhara, “Numerical modelling of the temperature distribution in a two-phase closed thermosy-phon”, Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 60(1–2), pp. 122–131, 2013, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.06.044 .
  8. V. R. Pawar, and S. Sobhansarbandi, “CFD modeling of a thermal energy storage based heat pipe evacuated tube solar collec-tor”, Journal of Energy Storage, Vol. 30, p. 101528, 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2020.101528 .
  9. Z. Zuo, and A. Faghri, “A network thermodynamic analysis of the heat pipe”, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 41(11), pp. 1473–1484, 1998, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0017-9310(97)00220-2 .
  10. S. C. De Schepper, G. J. Heynderickx, and G. B. Marin, “Modeling the evaporation of a hydrocarbon feedstock in the convec-tion section of a steam cracker”, Computers & Chemical Engineering, Vol. 33(1), pp. 122–132, 2009.
  11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compchemeng.2008.07.013 .
  12. M. Xie et al., “Experimental investigation of heat transfer performance of rotating heat pipe”, Procedia Engineering, Vol. 99, pp. 746–751, 2015, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2014.12.597 .
  13. H. M. Maghrabie et al., “Numerical simulation of heat pipes in different applications”, International Journal of Thermofluids, Vol. 16: p. 100199, 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2022.100199 .
  14. S. A. Annamalai, and V. Ramalingam, “Experimental investigation and CFD analysis of a air cooled condenser heat pipe”, Thermal Science, Vol. 15(3), pp. 759–772, 2011, doi: https://doi.org/10.2298/TSCI100331023A .
  15. R. A. Mahmood, D. Buttsworth, and R. Malpress, “Experimental and numerical investigation of two-phase flow orientation direction change on a vertical flash tank separator”, International Journal of Management and Applied Science (IJMAS), Vol. 5(4), pp. 25–29, 2019 .
  16. H. K. Versteeg, An introduction to computational fluid dynamics the finite volume method, 2/E. 2007: Pearson Education India.
  17. A. Fluent, ANSYS Fluent 14.5 user’s guide. ANSYS, Inc., Canonsburg, PA, 2012.
  18. F. Aqilah et al., “Study of mesh quality improvement for CFD analysis of an airfoil”, IIUM Engineering Journal, Vol. 19(2), pp. 203–212, 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumej.v19i2.905 .
  19. N. Fatchurrohman, and S. Chia, “Performance of hybrid nano-micro reinforced mg metal matrix composites brake calliper: simu-lation approach”, IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, Vol. 257: p. 012060, 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/257/1/012060 .
  20. R. Lanzafame, S. Mauro, and M. Messina, “Wind turbine CFD modeling using a correlation-based transitional model”, Renewa-ble Energy, Vol. 52, pp. 31–39, 2013, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.10.007 .
  21. W. Wang, and J. H. Li, “Simulation of Gas–Solid Two-Phase Flow by a Multi-Scale CFD Approach–Extension of the EMMS Model to the Sub-Grid Level”, Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 62, pp. 208–231, 2007, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2006.08.017 .
  22. O. A. Alawi, N. A. Che Sidik, and H. Mohammed, “A comprehensive review of fundamentals, preparation and applications of nanorefrigerants”, International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 54, pp. 81–95, 2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2014.03.001 .
  23. M. K. Melda Özdince Çarpinlioğlu, A Computational Modeling Study on Nanorefrigerants: Definition of Miscellaneous Multi-plier M. The International Journal of Engineering and Science (IJES), pp. 21–38, 2022(7).

Downloads

Published

2025-06-26

How to Cite

[1]
D. Ahmed and R. Mahmood, “Computational Investigation: CFD guide for the Evaporation process in Heat Pipe”, Mech. Adv. Technol., vol. 9, no. 2(105), pp. 125–132, Jun. 2025.

Issue

Section

Mechanics