Effect of heat source area on the thermal resistance of the wick columns vapor chambers

Abstract

The results of the spreading thermal resistance, heat transfer and flow characteristics of the vapor chamber embedded with plate fin are investigated. The experiments are performed with the vapor chambers with wick plate and wick columns embedded plate fin. Parametric studies including different heat fluxes, heated surface areas, flow rate of coolants on the cooling performance in terms of the spreading thermal resistance and heat transfer characteristics are considered. A three-dimensional heat and mass transfer model for the vapor chamber with wick plate and wick columns are developed. The velocity and pressure distributions of liquid phase and vapor phase inside the vapor chamber obtained from the simulation are shown. By comparing the experimental results with numerical results, reasonable agreement is obtained. It can be found that the heat input and heat source area have significant effect on the decreasing of the boiling and condensation thermal resistances while they are slightly effect on the decreasing of the convective thermal resistance. Due to the wick plate and wick columns, the capillary force has significant effect on the working fluid circulation, evaporation rate and flow directions of the liquid and vapor phases inside the vapor chamber. The results of this study are of technological importance for the efficient design of cooling system of the personal computer or electronic devices to enhance cooling performance of the vapor chamber.