Experimental study of a flat plate pulsating heat pipe in parabolic flights

This Master Thesis describes the preparation and setup for the experimental studies and the studies themselves, investigating the performances of a flat plate pulsating heat pipe (FPHP) in different gravity conditions. These conditions were achieved by means of parabolic flights organized by ESA on board a special aircraft. In the preparation of the experimental equipments,that had to fulfill special aeronautical safety standards, some items needed to be built from zero, others were ready to use from previous campaigns and didn’t need any particular set up, some others needed rearrangements, modifications and improvements. The thesis describes in details all the steps to the final experimental layout. From the scientific point of view, are shown and discussed the gross results coming from the first test on ground, from the simulations of the flights performed in laboratory, and from the the real flights. All the data acquired were then compared, processed and the final results are analyzed and discussed. The obtained outcomes are valuable and useful informations for whoever could be interested in the application of FPHP in fields without constant gravity conditions.