Simple Conduction Model for Theoretical Steady-State Heat Pipe Performance

Abstract

An analytical model is established for the steady-state thermal performance of single component heat pipes. By considering the interaction of axial heat conduction through the wall with various heat-transfer modes inside and outside the heat pipe, the analysis leads to the prediction of saturated vapor temperature, the axial wall temperature and mass flow distributions along the heat pipe. The thermal performance of a heat pipe is shown to be dependent upon two dimensionless parameters: the Biot number with respect to the wick and a parameter that characterizes the relative contributions of radial conduction through the wick and axial conduction through the pipe wall. The predictions are compared and discussed with existing experimental results.