Two-dimensional axisymmetrical model for a rotating porous wicked heat pipe

This investigation presents the results of a numerical study on a rotating heat pipe having a porous wick and constant cylindrical diameter. A two-dimensional model is developed to simulate the flow and heat transfer in the heat pipe. The numerical results show that the rotational speed and the heat flux have dominant effects on the vapour flow, while the flow in the porous wick seems to be unaffected. It is interesting to notice that the increase in the rotational speed can lead to flow reversal while the increase in the heat flux rate has an effect which tends to counterbalance the rotational speed effects.