What is a
Heat Pipe?
A heat pipe is a closed
evaporator-condenser system that is used to transfer heat away from a heat
source.
How are they Made?
A heat pipe consists of a hollow
metal pipe filled with a working fluid. A wick is sometimes inserted through
the length of the pipe. The pipe is closed at both ends to ensure the interior
of the pipe is a partial vacuum.
How do they Work?
Depending on the application, one
end of the heat pipe can be placed or mounted near a heat source. As the one
end of the pipe is heated, the working fluid vaporizes and rises to the other
end of the pipe, which is typically connected to a heat sink. At this end, the
fluid condenses and releases the heat it acquired during the evaporation
process. The condensed fluid returns to the other end of the pipe through
gravity and capillary forces in the wick. If the proper materials are used,
this cycle of evaporation and condensation will continue in equilibrium,
keeping the temperature of the pipe constant throughout.
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| Credit: www.myheatsinks.com |
How are
they used?
Heat pipes have a wide range of
uses, consisting of any application that requires heat to be transferred away
from a heat source. They are typically used when it is not feasible to place a
cooler or heat sink directly next to the heat source. Some common applications
include electronics cooling, HVAC, and temperature regulation in spacecraft.
More
Information…
This video
is essentially what we will be doing when constructing the prototype.
This paper gives a more thorough analysis of each heat pipe component. Equations described section 3 (wick performance) will influence our future analysis. [LINK]
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