ANALYSIS OF THERMAL PERFORMANCE IN A TWO-PHASE THERMOSYPHON LOOP BASED ON FLOW VISUALIZATION AND AN IMAGE PROCESSING TECHNIQUE

Abstract

Thermal performance was analyzed based on flow visualization and an image processing technique in a two-phase thermosyphon loop (TPTL) with boiling water as the working fluid at low pressure. The bubble geometries, bubble frequency, and dynamic void fraction were estimated using direct image analysis combined with the power spectrum and statistical analysis. At a heating rate of 400 W and a filling ratio of 0.88, the thermal performance of the TPTL was enhanced with a thermal efficiency of 91% and effective thermal conductivity of 11,336 Wm^-1 °C^-1. The enhancement was due to the higher frequency cap bubble flow of 11.2 Hz obtained by the direct flow visualization. The bigger Taylor bubbles with slug flow were examined to contribute to the negative effect on the heat transfer rate due to their film boiling regimes. The detailed analysis reveals the mechanism of bubble flow interacting with thermal performance.