Design of a cryogenic two-phase flow visualization system for cryogenic pulsating heat pipe

Abstract A cryogenic pulsating heat pipe (PHP), as a novel two-phase heat transfer device, has been studied for cooling superconducting magnets because of its high transfer coefficient, simple configuration, and flexible arrangement. From the results of the room temperature PHP experiments, it was noticed that the flow characteristics and the flow pattern of the PHP are complex, which affect the heat transfer performance of the PHP. In this work, a cryogenic two-phase flow visualization system for cryogenic PHP by using a GM cryocooler is developed to get a better understanding of the oscillating behavior, the distribution of vapor slug and liquid plug, and the flow pattern of the cryogenic working fluid. The details of the design of this system are presented. The performance of the GM cryocooler is verified and the temperature distribution of the cooling system is discussed. The liquid slugs and vapor bubbles were observed during the cool-down period. The visualization experiment will be carried out with the cryogenic PHP prototype installed and operated in a vertical position using nitrogen as a working fluid.