Keywords
heat pipe, wick structures
Abstract
A novel experimental approach is developed for characterizing the performance of heat pipe wick structures. This approach simulates the actual operation of wick structures in a heat pipe. Open, partially submerged, sintered copper wicks of varying pore size are studied under the partially saturated conditions found in normal heat pipe operation. A vertical wick orientation, where the capillary lift is in opposition to gravity, is selected to test the wicks under the most demanding conditions. Mass transport measurements of the working fluid, in addition to the temperature field, are obtained for the porous wicks under the action of a discrete heat source (evaporator) mounted on one end. The working fluid, supplied from a condenser pool, evaporates from the wick surface primarily in the evaporator region, and is condensed and collected into a container separate from the pool, to yield mass flow rates. Thus the liquid-pumping capability of the wick, coupled with flow impedance, is measured as a function of applied heat flux. Repeatable results with low uncertainty are obtained. A careful analysis of the transport paths for heat and mass transfer in the wick structure confirms that mass transfer due to vaporization of the working fluid is the largest contributor to heat dissipation from the wick. The expected and measured values of evaporation rate are in good agreement. Results are also presented in terms of overall effective conductance based on measured temperatures.
Original Publication Citation
Brian D. Iverson, Tyler W. Davis, Suresh V. Garimella, Mark T. North, and Sukhvinder S. Kang. "Heat and Mass Transport in Heat Pipe Wick Structures", Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, Vol. 21, No. 2 (2007), pp. 392-404. doi: 10.2514/1.25809.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Iverson, Brian D.; Davis, Tyler W.; Garimella, Suresh V.; North, Mark T.; and Kang, Sukhvinder S., "Heat and Mass Transport in Heat Pipe Wick Structures" (2007). Faculty Publications. 1581.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/1581
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2007
Permanent URL
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/3505
Publisher
Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer
Language
English
College
Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Copyright Status
The publisher's final version can be found at http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/1.25809.
Copyright Use Information
http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/