Physical principles and state-of-the-art of modeling of the pulsating heat pipe: A review

The Pulsating (called also oscillating) Heat Pipe (PHP) is a high performance passive heat transfer device. It consists in closed capillary channel folded into several meanders, evacuated, and partially filled with liquid its vapor. One side thermal contact hot spot, the other cold spot. oscillation of plugs vapor bubbles spontaneously occurs after heating beginning. exchange takes place not only by latent transfer, but convection. Both this advantage PHP structural simplicity make it competitive respect to kinds pipes. However, operation non-stationary depends on many physical material parameters. As result, application empirical correlations quite unsuccessful. More sophisticated direct modeling thus required. In review, we present past, present, future perspectives theoretical studies. phenomena level single bubble plug addressed first. context, simplest, branch described as necessary first step toward understanding model validation. interaction between (bubble generation disappearance, evaporation) discussed next. Finally, state art simulation multi-turn reviewed difference existing approaches explained.