In this study

the start-up time

thermal resistance

and evaporation temperature fluctuation of a pulsating heat pipe were experimentally studied based on the influence of alcohol polyoxyethylene ether nonionic surfactant (AEO-9). The experimental conditions included heating powers of 40 W

60 W

80 W

100 W

and 120 W and AEO-9 mass concentrations of 10 mg/kg

20 mg/kg

30 mg/kg

and 40 mg/kg. The results indicate that AEO-9 can reduce the start-up time compared with deionized water; the start-up time first decreases and then increases as the AEO-9 mass concentration increases. When the heating power is 40 W and the AEO-9 mass concentration is 20 mg/kg

the start-up time is reduced by a maximum of 29.2%. AEO-9 can also reduce the thermal resistance. At a low heating power (≤60 W)

the thermal resistance increases as the AEO-9 mass concentration increases. At a high heating power (≥100 W)

the thermal resistance decreases as the AEO-9 mass concentration increases. When the heating power is 40 W and the AEO-9 mass concentration is 10 mg/kg

the thermal resistance is reduced by a maximum of 35.8%. AEO-9 can reduce the evaporation temperature fluctuation

and the fluctuation amplitude decreases as the AEO-9 concentration increases. When the heating power is 120 W and the AEO-9 mass concentration is 40 mg/kg

the temperature fluctuation amplitude is reduced by a maximum of 68.4%.