Numerical simulation of heat transfer characteristics of special-shaped heat pipe

The special-shaped heat pipe has unique advantages in special working conditions for extreme heat transfer. Therefore, this article takes the RB211-535E4 engine as an example, according to the structural characteristics of the internal and external ducts of the aeroengine, proposed a special-shaped heat pipe suitable for absorbing the waste heat of the aircraft engine. It can install between the internal and external ducts. A special-shaped heat pipe with a circular arc-shaped elbow is designed for the installation structure characteristics of the heat-absorbing end and the heat-emitting end. The generation of the plug flow in the steam cavity is the main factor affecting the working efficiency through the study of the working performance of the special-shaped heat pipe, and optimized the structure of the elbow joints with fillet radius of 0.4mm, 0.6mm and 0.8mm according to the ratio of the actual model and the simulation model. Besides, the transfer performance of heat pipe under this working condition was compared by numerical simulation. The results indicated that the temperature distribution of special-shaped heat pipe were much better than that traditional heat pipe, and the special-shaped heat pipe with R of 0.6mm had the best heat transfer effect. Especially the special-shaped heat pipe with R of 0.4mm had the shortest start-up time and the lowest start-up, and the optimized heat pipe had little difference in starting thermal performance. Additionally, the special-shaped heat pipe with R of 0.6mm had lower thermal resistance and maximum heat exchange efficiency. It can conclude comprehensively that the special-shaped heat pipe with R of 0.6mm has the best operation performance under this working condition.