Heat pipe integrated solar thermal systems and applications: A review

Abstract

Heat pipe (HP) is a passive technique for conduction of heat from source to sink over a large distances. Being very efficient than pure metal conductor of which it is made, It has a broad spectrum of applications, from very low to very high temperatures. The discussion in this paper is limited to low and medium temperature heat pipe integrated solar thermal applications. The major focus is on construction and thermal performances of solar collectors integrated with heat pipe used for water heating (domestic and Industrial purpose), air/space heating, water desalination and indirect solar cooking system. Through literature review the observations are, heat pipe designs commonly used in thermal applications are wick, wickless (Thermosyphon), pulsating, loop and flat micro heat pipe array and feasibility prediction, performance superiority of heat pipe integrated thermal systems over systems without heat pipe are checked based on energy, exergy calculations.