An experimental investigation of heat transport capability in a nanofluid oscillating heat pipe

An experimental investigation of a nanofluid oscillating heat pipe (OHP) was conducted to determine the nanofluid effect on the heat transport capability in an OHP. The nanofluid consisted of HPLC grade water and 1.0 vol % diamond nanoparticles of 5-50 nm. These diamond nanoparticles settle down in the motionless base fluid. However the oscillating motion of the OHP suspends the diamond nanoparticles in the working fluid. Experimental results show that the heat transport capability of the OHP significantly increased when it was charged with the nanofluid at a filling ratio of 50%. It was found that the heat transport capability of the OHP depends on the operating temperature. The investigated OHP could reach a thermal resistance of 0.03 degrees C/W at a heat input of 336 W. The nanofluid OHP investigated here provides a new approach in designing a highly efficient next generation of heat pipe cooling devices.