Effect of inclination angle on the charging process of flat heat pipe-assisted latent heat storage unit

This study aims to conduct an experiment to understand the influence of inclination angle on coupled heat transfer process of heat pipe and the phase change material (PCM) under constant heat flux conditions. An experimental platform for an angle-adjustable latent heat storage unit using flat heat pipe and lauric acid was designed and fabricated. Melting time of PCM and time-varying temperature pattern of flat heat pipe and PCM under different inclination angles were recorded. Effective thermal resistance and conductivity of flat heat pipe, thermal resistance, and heat transfer coefficient between flat heat pipe and PCM were also calculated and analyzed.