Design Guide and Heat Pipe Selection

Abstract

Heat pipes and its closed two-phase thermosyphons are highly efficient heat transfer devices utilizing the continuous evaporation/condensation of suitable working fluid for two-phase heat transport in a closed system. Due to a variety of advantageous features, these devices have found a number of applications in space, terrestrial, nuclear power plant, and electronics technology. The operational principles and the performance characteristics of the different types of heat pipes are described. For the heat pipe designs, which have found the widest application, versus the classical capillary-wick heat pipes and the wickless heat pipes or closed two-phase thermosyphons, mathematical schemes are given to calculate the performance and performance limits in Chap. 2. Here in this chapter we will discuss the design criteria and steps for a heat pipe depending on its application. In this chapter also, few design examples are gathered from different authors or researchers in this field to provide a better guideline and procedures to the readers. Heat pipes are being used very often in particular applications when conventional cooling methods are not suitable. Once the need for heat pipe arises, the most appropriate heat pipe needs to be selected.