Principle of Heat Pipe

Basic element of the heat pipe

Container (closed and vacuum)
Wick (Capillary Construction)
Working Fluid

evaporate

Copper
tube

vapor flow

Wick

condensation
liquid flow

adiabatic section
heating

cooling

1. Groove
2. Screen mesh
3. Fine fiber
4. Sintered powder

How Does the Heat Pipe Work?

* Hot Vapor Rises to Heat Pipe Tip

Cooled vapor liquifies and returns

to bottom of pipe to repeat cycle.

Common Wicking Structures of Heat Pipes

Axial Groove
Rectangular,
Circular, triangular,
or trapezoidal grooves

Screen Mesh
Multiple wraps
Of wire screen
mesh

Fine Fiber
Stacked between
Wall and coil

Sintering (Powder)
Packed spherical
Particles, felt metal
Fibers or powder

Wick or Capillary Structure

Axially Grooved

Screen Mesh

Fine Fiber

Sintering (Powder)

Wicking Structures Comparison

Wicking
Material

Conductivity

(Straight)

Overcome
Gravity

Thermal
Resistance

Stability

Conductivity
lost

(bended
and flatten)

Good

Poor

Low

Good

Average

Average

Average

Average

Average

Low

Fine Fiber

Poor

Good

High

Poor

Average

Sintering
(Powder)

Average

Excellent

High

Average

High

Axial Groove

Screen
Mesh

Phase diagram of the material

Critical Point

Vapor
Pressure

Condensation

Va

ti
a
z
ori

on

Solid
Triple Point

Liquid

Working Temp. Range

Temperature

Heat Pipe Performance

Pipe
Specification

Performance

Power/
W

Thermal
resistanc
e /w

25~35

0.30~0.60

35~45

0.20~0.40

D/M
M

80~350
L/mm

Straight
50~60

0.15~0.35

60~80

0.10~0.30

Remark

Copper
&
Working
Fluid

Thermal
resistance varies
with different wick
structures or
power (w).

Life/Yr

>3~

Material

Powder and Groove Heatpipes

Auras capability in both powder and groove heatpipes