High-Acceleration Performance of the Flat Swinging Heat Pipe

The Flat Swinging Heat Pipe (FSHP) is a new cooling concept aiming at cooling of high power electronics at different acceleration loads, ranging from zero to ten times the earth's gravitation. The FSHP combines high heat transfer rates with the capability to withstand and operate under “any” acceleration condition.

This paper briefly outlines the basic working principle of the FSHP, and describes the experiments and tests at normal gravity both in a prototype high-g FSHP and in a glass experimental FSHP. The experiments focussed on fluid distribution, on measurement of liquid and vapour slug oscillations and on the assessment of the best working fluid and filling ratio. High-acceleration experiments were carried out on a rotating table, capable of generating 8.4 times the earth's gravitation at the FSHP center. The paper discusses aspects of fluid distribution, measurement of fluid oscillations, selection of the optimal working fluid and optimal filling ratio.