Numerical and Analytical Solutions for Two-Dimensional Gas Distribution in Gas-Loaded Heat Pipes

Abstract

This work presents a two-dimensional axisymmetric diffusion model for the non-condensable gas distribution in gas-loaded heat pipes and thermosyphons. The new model, based on an integral analysis, has major advantages over existing, computationally time consuming, two-dimensional models. It has equal accuracy while using only the computational effort required for the cruder one-dimensional model, and also includes the effects of wall conduction and spatial variation of the condenser heat transfer coefficient. To simplify design calculations further an analytic two-dimensional solution is established, which gives excellent results over a wide range of parameters.