Investigation of a wire plate micro heat pipe array

• Published in: International journal of thermal sciences Vol. 43; no. 5; pp. 499 - 507
• Main Authors: Launay, Stéphane, Sartre, Valérie, Mantelli, Marcia B.H., de Paiva, Kleber Vieira, Lallemand, Monique
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Elsevier Masson SAS 01.05.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Capillary limit; Devices using thermal energy; Effective thermal conductivity; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Experimental study; Heat pipes; Micro heat pipe array; Theoretical model; Micro heat pipe array; Effective thermal conductivity; Theoretical model; Experimental study; Capillary limit; Array; Temperature distribution; Heat pipe; Numerical simulation; Velocity distribution; Miniaturized design; Modeling
• ISSN: 1290-0729; 1778-4166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2003.10.006

In the present work, experimental and theoretical investigations have been conducted on a copper/water wire plate micro heat pipe (MHP). The experimental results show that its effective thermal conductivity is improved by a factor 1.3 as compared to the empty MHP array. A numerical model is used to predict the fluid distribution along the MHP axis, the temperature field and the maximum heat flux corresponding to the MHP capillary limit. The 1D, steady-state hydrodynamic model is based on the conservation equations for the liquid and vapour phases. The wall temperatures are calculated from the thermal resistance network of the wall and the liquid film. A good agreement between the theoretical and experimental data is achieved. The effect of various parameters—contact angle, fluid type, corner angle, fill charge—is theoretically investigated.