Experimental Investigation of Flow-Induced Vibrations of an Oscillating Heat Pipe

An experiment of self-induced vibrations produced by an oscillating heat pipe was conducted to better understand the mechanical effects of internally oscillating liquid slugs. The oscillating heat pipe was suspended in top heating mode from elastic strands into an ice bath with three single-axis accelerometers. The results show that the strongest accelerations are produced in the same axis as the primary path of fluid travel through the channels. An initial peak acceleration that corresponds with oscillating heat pipe startup was also observed. Additionally, asymmetry in the vertical axis suggests a possible imbalance between the evaporator and condenser sections. Oscillating heat pipe geometry likely plays a significant role on the resulting vibrations, and therefore future research should explore different device designs and configurations.