HEAT TRANSFER LIMITATIONS OF HEAT PIPE

There are various parameters that put limitations and constraints on the steady and transient
[1][2]
operations of heat pipes
. In other words, the rate of heat transport through a heat pipe is subject
to a number of operating limits. Physical phenomena that might limit heat transport in heat pipes are
due to capillary, sonic, entrainment, boiling, frozen startup, continuum vapor, vapor pressure and
condenser effects. The heat transfer limitation can be any of the above limitations depending on the
size and shape of the pipe, working fluid, wick structure, and operating temperature. The lowest limit
among the eight constraints defines the maximum heat transport limitation of a heat pipe at a given
temperature. The physical phenomena for each limitation are briefly presented below. A detailed
presentation of the criteria for the heat transfer limitations for heat pipes are provided in Faghri