Single/multi‐objective optimization and comparative analysis of liquid‐metal heat pipe. (27th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tian, Zhixing; Liu, Yu; Wang, Chenglong; Guo, Kailun; Zhang, Dalin; Tian, Wenxi; Qiu, Suizheng; Su, G. H.
• Is Part Of: International journal of energy research. Volume 46:Number 12(2022)
• Page Start: 17521
• Page End: 17539
• Publication Date: 2022-07-27
• Subjects: liquid‐metal heat pipe -- multi‐objective optimization -- single‐objective optimization; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Research -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1002/er.8420
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-907X

Abstract

Summary: Heat pipes utilize the latent heat of vaporization and lie on the capillary forces to maintain the circulation of working fluid. High‐temperature heat pipes applied in the nuclear silent thermal‐electrical reactor are investigated and optimized. Nine wick structures and several design variables are investigated in the single/multi‐objective optimization. The improved network thermodynamic model of a heat pipe is adopted, and the thermal resistance, mass, and transport capacity of wicks are selected as the objective functions. Multi‐objective optimization results are obtained by Pareto‐optimal points. Comparative results reveal that mesh screen and annular artery present a better performance (0.00180 K/W) in both single and multiple objective optimizations. Potassium is preferred for the wick of the circular artery and rectangular artery, while sodium is preferred for the wick of isosceles‐triangular groove and sintered fibers. And with the operating temperature (800 ~ 950 K), thermal resistance is decreased with the simultaneous rise of mass (165.2%) and transport capacity (154.6%) in the mesh screen. This work makes it possible to improve the operational performance of a heat pipe and provides a reference for the selection of wick structure and heat pipe design.