A high capacity self-priming counter-gravity heat pipe: Modeling and experimental demonstration

摘要

We mathematically model, fabricate, and test a counter-gravity heat pipe with a unique header and artery system. The header and artery system augments the capillary limit of traditional heat pipes with homogeneous wicks by incorporating a low resistance pathway for liquid return from the condenser to the evaporator. Unlike other composite wick designs for low resistance liquid return to the evaporator, the header and artery system enables priming of the wick structure for counter-gravity start-up. We tested a stainless steel-water heat pipe with the header and artery system. This header and artery heat pipe demonstrated reliable counter-gravity start-up with a capillary limit augmentation of over four times that of the same heat pipe with a conventional homogeneous wick. This result is in agreement with a theory developed by Chisholm (1978).