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Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)
Oscillating heat pipes (OHPs) have proven to be promising thermal control devices capable of potentially providing heat transfer solutions to meet the dynamic needs of today’s technology. However, unlike other thermal control systems, a full understanding of the fluid motion and oscillation within an OHP’s winding structure, and how to actively control it, severely limits the performance possibilities of its integration into cutting edge technologies seen in the aerospace, defense, and commercial sectors. By using electrohydrodynamic (EHD) induction pumping’s traveling electric wave mechanism, the proposed research aims to develop further understanding of the interaction between the traveling electric wave and the oscillating flow present in OHPs. From this, the proposed research will provide optimized solutions to active thermal control and build upon the current capabilities of both technologies to meet the growing needs of the current industry. The main goal of this proposal is to develop a next-generation, smart, active heat pipe with a focus on OHPs. To accomplish this, I will develop a mathematical model and detailed experiment to replicate and reproduce results from existing studies on OHPs. Next, the phenomena present in EHD induction pumping assisted OHPs will be modeled. From this, I aim to fabricate a detailed EHD induction pumping assisted OHP experimental setup and analyze the results as they compare to the mathematical model. Once both the theoretical and experimental studies coincide, another goal will be to explore additive manufacturing methods to embed EHD induction electrodes into oscillating heat pipes, to reduce weight, account for geometric complexities, and improve efficiency. Finally, the proposed research aims to prove the viability of an EHD induction pumping assisted OHP device as it pertains to integration into space technologies such as satellites. The significance of this proposed work will further develop the thermal control systems that NASA is very interested in, such as those that can actively remove heat from the evolving electronic components in their space technologies.
The significance of this proposed work will further develop the thermal control systems that NASA is very interested in, such as those that can actively remove heat from the evolving electronic components in their space technologies.
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