Some typical experimental heat pipe results

Working Operati Wick Design Wall Dimensions Axial Axial Heat Radial Heat
Fluid ng Material Heat Transport Flux (W/cm2)
Temper Transport Capability
ature (W) (W-m)
Methane -140°C Circumferential Stainles Lt = 0.4 m 12 3.93 1.82
mesh wick and s steel
arterial wick Le = 3 cm
Lc = 11.5 cm
Di = 7 mm

Ammonia 25°C Monogroove Aluminu Lt = 5.5 m 700 3200 7.26

m
Le = 0.91 m
Lc = 0.91 m
Dv = 13.4 mm
Dl = 6.32 mm
slot width =
0.381 mm

Water 50°C Axial grooves Copper Outer pipe 1300 940 Inner pipe: 2.32
same as
above; Inner Outer pipe: 1.47
pipe:
Do = 29.7 mm
Di = 25.4 mm

Water 50, 70, 3 wraps of a Copper Do = 19.05 20-180 4.6-41 0.33-2.96

80°C copper wire mm
screen mesh
with a wire Di = 15.75 mm
diameter of Lt = 355.6 mm
0.11 mm and
3937 strands Le = 101.6 mm
per meter Lc = 152.4 mm

Water 60-95°C Micro capillary Copper Lt = 120.65 130 15.6 90 (horizontal)

grooves mm (horizontal
(trapezoidal ) 20.4 150 (vertical)
and W = 13.41 mm
rectangular) 170
Le = 15.6 mm (vertical)
Lc = 34.4 mm
La = 70 mm

Water 75°C Circumferential Copper L = 1.0 m 392 283 1.92

copper screen
(50 mesh) Le = (4)@6.4
cm
Lc = 30 cm
Dv = 25.4 mm
Di = 22 mm

Water 100°C Axial grooves Copper Lt = 120 mm 70 8.4 35

with
rectang H = 2 mm
ular W = 7 mm
 cross Le = 20 mm
section
Lc = 20 mm

Water 100°C Copper wick, Copper Do = 19.1 mm 570 187 2.4

150 mesh
Di = 17.3 mm
Lt = 610 mm
Le = 393 mm
Lc = 170 mm

Water Axial Copper Lt = 82 mm 40 20

rectangular
grooves

Water 100 °C Axial Copper Lt = 120 mm 50 25 (horizontal)

rectangular (horizontal
grooves W = 7 mm ) 35 (vertical)
H = 3 mm 70
(vertical)

Water 160°C Double-wall Copper Lt = 1.2 m 900 900 6.45

artery
Le = 0.2 m
Lc = 0.2 m
Dv = 13.4 mm
Do = 22.2 mm

Thermino 300- Thermosyphon 316- Do = 15.8 mm 35-70 4.8-9.6 1.57-3.13

l VP-1 400°C stainles
s steel Di = 6 mm
Lt = 209 mm
Le = 45 mm
Lc = 100 mm

Sulfur- 350°C Thermosyphon Mild Do = 25 mm 390 204.8 1.24

Iodine 5% steel
wt Di = 20 mm
Lt = 1000 mm
Le = 400 mm
Lc = 550 mm

Sodium 430- Circumferential Stainles Lt = 1.0 m 1309 979 6.64

790°C stainless steel s steel
screen (100 Le = (4)@5.3
mesh) cm
Lc = 29.2 cm
Do = 26.7 mm
Di = 21.5 mm

Sodium 650°C Nickel sintered Stainles Do = 21.3 mm 1400 322 21

powder metal s steel
wick and an Di = -
artery Lt = 460 mm
Le = 100 mm
Lc = 160 mm
 Lc,inactive =
100 mm

Sodium 800°C Double-wall Stainles Lt = 2.0 m 758 1076 4.35

artery s steel
Le = 25 cm
Lc = 91 cm
Do = 2.22 cm

Mercury 630°C Thermosyphon 316L Do = 25.4 mm 1922 1115 12

stainles
s steel Di = 21 mm
Lt = 1000 mm
Le = 200 mm
Lc = 640 mm
Do = 19.1 mm
NaK (with 700°C 304 stainless 304L 250 57 3.65
Argon as wick stainles Di = -
NCG) s steel
Lt = 600 mm
Le = 114 mm
Lc,1 = 73 mm
Lc,2 = 66 mm
Lc,inactive =
50 mm

Lithium 1227°C Free-floating molybde Do = 19.1 mm 4000 3660 22.2

(1500 Mo-41wt.%Re num
K) 400-mesh Di = 16.06 mm
screen wick Lt = 1800 mm
(0.41 mm
thick) Le = 300 mm

A 0.37 mm Lc = 1470 mm
annular gap
separates the
wick from the
wall