An experimental and numerical investigation of capillary limit in an arterial heat pipe.

摘要

The operating characteristics and performance limits of a novel space qualified arterial heat pipe design were experimentally investigated. The arterial heat pipe was found to be capillary limited to a maximum dry-out power of 350 W at horizontal elevation. Performance was repeatable and stable throughout all testing. A numerical model that accounted for excess charging of working fluid was proposed and found to compare well with the results of experimental testing.