Flexible two-phase thermosyphons are devices that can transfer large amounts of heat flux with boiling and condensation of working fluid resulting from small temperature differences. A flexible two-phase thermosyphon consists of a evaporator, an insulation unit, and a condenser. The working fluid inside the evaporator is evaporated by heating the evaporator in the lower part of the flexible two-phase thermosyphon and the evaporated steam rises to the condenser in the upper part to transfer heat in response to the cooling fluid outside the tube. The resultant condensed working fluid flows downward along the inside surface of the tube due to gravity. These processes form a cycle. Using R134a refrigerant as the working fluid of a loop type flexible two-phase thermosyphon heat exchanger, an experiment was conducted to analyse changes in boiling heat transfer performances according to differences in the temperature of the oil for heating of the evaporator, the temperature variations of the refrigerant, and the mass flows. According to the results of the present study, the circulation rate of the refrigerant increased and the pressure in the evaporator also increased proportionally as the temperature of the oil in the evaporator increased. In addition, the heat transfer rate of the boiler increased as the temperature of the oil in the evaporator increased.

• Kyu-il HAN
• Dong-Hyun CHO(Department of Mechanical System Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48547, Korea) Corresponding author