Cellular flow in a rotating heat pipe with stepped wall

Abstract A laminar secondary flow pattern (cellular flow or hygrocysts) develops in a co-axial rotating heat pipe with a stepped condenser section. This flow pattern has heat transfer characteristics of its own. The interaction of the cellular flow in the evaporator and the annular flow in the condenser will strongly influence the heat transfer. Visualization experiments are conducted using a glass rotating heat pipe with stepped wall and systematic experiments are performed using a metallic heat pipe.