Capillary Limit of a Multiple-Evaporator and Multiple-Condenser Miniature Loop Heat Pipe

An experimental investigation was conducted on the capillary limit of a miniature loop heat pipe with multiple evaporators and multiple condensers. Tests were conducted under various operating conditions: 1) heat load to one evaporator only; 2) even heat loads to both evaporators; 3) no temperature control of either compensation chamber; 4) controlling the temperature of one or both compensation chambers using thermoelectric devices; 5) placing the loop in a horizontal position with evaporators and compensation chambers on the same plane; and 6) placing the loop in a vertical position with evaporators above the compensation chambers. The physical processes that lead to evaporator deprime and the recovery from the deprime were examined. The effect of the gravity on the capillary limit and the compensation chamber temperature was also investigated.

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