Thermal performance of cost-effective extruded aluminum pulsating heat pipes for electronic system cooling
Brede C, Heubeck A, Czwielong F, Epple P, Becker S, Schwarz F (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
Book Volume: 254
Article Number: 127547
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2025.127547
Abstract
In power electronics power densities are increasing rapidly. Therefore, new cooling concepts must be developed to reach a sufficiently low enough device temperature. In addition, a well-designed cooling concept leads to lower operating temperatures, thereby contributing to an extended lifetime of electronic components. To achieve such conditions pulsating heat pipes (PHPs) are a viable option. PHPs use a two phase flow of a fluid inside a sealed container for heat transfer which surpasses thermal conduction. In this work we present the usage of low cost extruded aluminum profiles as the container for PHPs thereby establishing a cost-efficient production method. The main perspective hereby is to lower production costs of PHP systems to establish broad use case in many cooling applications. We compare profile lengths of 250 mm up to 1000 mm filled with water and ethanol as working fluids in the vertical and horizontal orientation. Heat loads of up to ten times the amount of the empty profiles can be reached. The highest heat loads are achieved with 40% water filled, vertical profiles, which are able to transport up to 200 W/cm2 over the cross section of the PHP. In general, independent of the system length, a filling ratio of 40% leads to lower thermal resistances than filling ratios of 60%. The flow inside the channels is characterized as a gravity assisted thermosyphon for low power densities. For increasing power input, the system starts to oscillate. Horizontal operation is only possible to a limited extent.
Authors with CRIS profile
Felix Czwielong
Lehrstuhl für Prozessmaschinen und Anlagentechnik (iPAT)
Stefan Becker
Lehrstuhl für Prozessmaschinen und Anlagentechnik (iPAT)
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Brede, C., Heubeck, A., Czwielong, F., Epple, P., Becker, S., & Schwarz, F. (2026). Thermal performance of cost-effective extruded aluminum pulsating heat pipes for electronic system cooling. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2025.127547
MLA:
Brede, Claus, et al. "Thermal performance of cost-effective extruded aluminum pulsating heat pipes for electronic system cooling." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 254 (2026).
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