Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
University of Alberta
$101,370.00
Heat pipe design optimization through the application of surface chemical treatments and the adaptation of core annular flow theory
FY 2017-18
Summary
The ability to transfer heat quickly and efficiently across modest distances is essential to many engineering industries e.g. aerospace, electronics and HVAC. An especially effective device for accomplishing this task is the heat pipe, which, in its simplest incarnation, consists of a closed metal tube inside of which is a working fluid that respectively evaporates and condenses where the tube is hot and cold.Working with a Canadian company committed to fabricating novel heat transfer and air handling equipment, we will use new advances in surface science and micro-fluidics to better understand heat pipe operation with a view towards improving performance through better design. In addition to generating new knowledge and training a variety of students, our major (industrial) deliverable will be a computer program capable of informing design decisions. The program in question will leverage four decades of original research in the field and will also make use of new results generated through our laboratory program. More specifically, we plan to experimentally test the feasibility of using surface chemical treatments to modify the surface energy of the wick, the component internal to the heat pipe that passively ""pumps"" condensed liquid back to the hot end of the heat pipe. Through such a chemical treatment, we hope to realize favourable regimes of evaporation and condensation and to separately minimize entrainment, the process by which liquid droplets are sheared away from the wick. In a related theoretical effort, we plan to adapt ideas from core annular flow theory so as to improve the dynamical description of the liquid-vapour counterflow.Results from our study will be both communicated in the scientific literature and also adapted for pragmatic application by the industrial partner. In this latter respect, we envision making a key technical contribution by improving the design capabilities and also the profitability of a Canadian company eager for new opportunities.
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
514467-2017
Name nom
Flynn, Morris
Department département
Mechanical Engineering
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2017
Competition year année de concours
2017
Award amount
101370
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
306
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy efficiency
Area of application fr
Efficacité énergétique
Research subject code
2100
Research subject group en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie mécanique
Research subject en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject fr
Génie mécanique
Partie
1
Nb partie
4
Application title
Heat pipe design optimization through the application of surface chemical treatments and the adaptation of core annular flow theory
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The ability to transfer heat quickly and efficiently across modest distances is essential to many engineering industries e.g. aerospace, electronics and HVAC. An especially effective device for accomplishing this task is the heat pipe, which, in its simplest incarnation, consists of a closed metal tube inside of which is a working fluid that respectively evaporates and condenses where the tube is hot and cold.Working with a Canadian company committed to fabricating novel heat transfer and air handling equipment, we will use new advances in surface science and micro-fluidics to better understand heat pipe operation with a view towards improving performance through better design. In addition to generating new knowledge and training a variety of students, our major (industrial) deliverable will be a computer program capable of informing design decisions. The program in question will leverage four decades of original research in the field and will also make use of new results generated through our laboratory program. More specifically, we plan to experimentally test the feasibility of using surface chemical treatments to modify the surface energy of the wick, the component internal to the heat pipe that passively ""pumps"" condensed liquid back to the hot end of the heat pipe. Through such a chemical treatment, we hope to realize favourable regimes of evaporation and condensation and to separately minimize entrainment, the process by which liquid droplets are sheared away from the wick. In a related theoretical effort, we plan to adapt ideas from core annular flow theory so as to improve the dynamical description of the liquid-vapour counterflow.Results from our study will be both communicated in the scientific literature and also adapted for pragmatic application by the industrial partner. In this latter respect, we envision making a key technical contribution by improving the design capabilities and also the profitability of a Canadian company eager for new opportunities.
