OHP Construction and Design

OHP’s are passive heat transfer devices involving two stages of heat transfer. They work on
self-exciting phenomenon.
OHPs can be classified into three types, as shown below.

The first type is the closed-loop oscillating heat pipe (CLOHP), which is connected at both
ends of the tube to form a closed loop.
Next is a CLOHP with a check valve which makes the working fluid move in a specific
direction.
The last type of OHP is a closed-end oscillating heat pipe (CEOHP), which is closed at both
ends.
A closed loop OHP is a serpentine channel winding tube with small diameter. A closed loop
structure is formed when the two ends of tube are connected to each other. Initially the
tube is fully evacuated and then partially with working fluid. Generally, water is taken as
working fluid.
The OHP is divided into three sections, they are evaporator, adiabatic and condenser. The
lengths of these sections can be changed depending upon requirements and applications.
OHP’s are fabricated using copper, aluminium, stainless steel and nickel because of their
high conductivity and moderate cost. It is long tube with small thickness having loops and
bending radius of serpentine channel.
The OHP is cooled down by natural convection. The condenser section is open to
atmosphere. Below the condenser section, the tube is well heat-insulated by the thick glass
wool covered by aluminium foil, forming the adiabatic sections. The OHP has contained a
closed-loop pipe, with a pressure gauge.

The only disadvantage with OHP is that its working principle is complex and are not able to
operate at any orientation (i.e. angle of inclination) successfully.

Applications of OHP’s
1) Performance enhancement of air conditioning system with CLOHP with check valve.
2) For reducing energy required for air dryer can be reduced by CLOHP with check
valve.
3) Wide applications in microelectronics.
4) Cooling system for Electric vehicle Li-Ion batteries.
5) Certain space applications.
6) Production tools, engines and automobile industries etc.