Experimental study of capillary pumped loop for integrated power in gravity field

Year after year, thermal dissipation due, for instance, to power electronics, is increasing. The efficiency demand is consequently growing for highly efficient cooling systems as classical solutions are becoming outdated. In this context, Capillary Pumped Loops (CPLs) appear as innovative and efficient heat transfer devices but there is still a lack of data concerning their operating characteristics in gravity field for terrestrial applications. Thus, in this work, a particular design of CPL (called CPLIP) with flat evaporator, designed by the Euro Heat Pipes society in Belgium, has been tested at steady state and transient regime in order to provide data and new insights into thermal and hydraulics couplings of these systems.

▸ We study a capillary pumped loop in gravity field. ▸ Test bench is thermal and hydraulic instrumented. ▸ Key phenomena for transient operation are highlighted. ▸ Sensitivity study at steady state is performed. ▸ Hysteresis phenomena appear at steady state.