Analysis of Porous Wick Heat Pipes, Including Capillary Dry-Out Limitations

Abstract

A complete numerical analysis of heat pipes is performed with no empirical correlations while including the flow in a wick. The numerical model is validated from experimental and numerical work. Single and multiple heat sources were used as well as constant, convective and radiative heat sinks. The numerical model does not fix the internal pressure references by a point, but allows is to rise and fall based on the physics of the problem. Also, the capillary pressure needed in the wick to drive the flow is obtained for various heating configurations and powers. These capillary pressures, in conjunction with an analysis that predicts the maximum capillary pressure for a given heating load is used to determine the dry-out limitations of a heat pipe.