Experimental Study on the Condensation of a Thermosyphon by Electrical Capacitance Tomography

The study on the condensation and the two-phase flow pattern in the condensation section is important to understand the operating mechanisms in a thermosyphon. In this paper, a new electric capacitance tomography (ECT) sensor was designed for the visualization measurement in a liquid by removing the shielding case and sealing with insulating hydrophobic material. It was successfully used to measure the condensation process in a thermosyphon under different operating temperatures. The thermosyphon was made of silica glass, and alcohol was used as a working fluid. The alcohol vapor was cooled to condense through the heat convection with the cooling water. The operating temperature was controlled by a heater with different power outputs. The experimental results show that the alcohol vapor condensed in stripes and unevenly on the wall surface at a low operating temperature. The liquid bridge will be formed periodically at the operating temperature of 90 degrees C, and the time interval between two liquid bridges will be shorter with the increase of the operating temperature. At 117 degrees C or even higher operating temperatures, the complete liquid bridge cannot be formed sometimes due to the difference of the growth rate of the surface wave around the circumference.