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This paper investigates a novel micro-channel flat separated loop heat pipe system for cooling the information technology equipment in the data centres through theoretical and experimental analysis and by assessing the impact of the inlet water temperature on system performance. A computer model is developed to simulate the steady-state performance of the micro-channel flat separated loop heat pipe system. After comparing the experimental and modelling results, the new and conventional system under the same working conditions, the model is validated yielding high accuracy in predicting the performance of the micro-channel flat separated loop heat pipe system with recorded error being limited to 2.16–8.97%. The new system has better performance than the conventional system. Under the operating conditions of heat load intensity of 1,000 W/m2, water flow rate of 0.28 m3/h, refrigerant filling rate of 30%, ambient air temperature of 26°C, and evaporator and condenser height difference of 0.8 m, the performance of the system has been explored at inlet temperature from 15 to 24°C with increments of 3°C. The system's averaged heat transfer efficiency was found to decrease with the increase in inlet temperature. This research provides valuable insight into the data centre information technology equipment cooling, which is of great significance for energy saving and environmentally friendly operation of data centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel photovoltaic/thermal system using micro-channel flat loop heat pipe (PV/T-MCFLHP) is proposed, and the thermal and electrical performance of the system is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The variations of temperatures were analysed, and the efficiency of the system was calculated under different conditions, i.e. simulated solar radiation, water flow rate and refrigerant filling ratio. The maximum overall efficiency of the system was found to be 51.3%, the thermal efficiency 43.8% and the electrical efficiency 7.5% with the refrigerant filling ratio of 25%, simulated solar radiation of 800 W/m2 and water flow rate of 400 L/h. Test results were compared with simulation results, and the recorded average error was 10.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]