A deformable body variable conductance heat pipe
Abstract
Variable thermal conductance can be achieved in a heat pipe by controlling liquid flow. A simple heat pipe design is presented that varies thermal conductance by entrapment of liquid in a deformable section. A prototype was constructed and tested. Heat transfer was varied from 0 to 20 watts. Thermal conductance was proportional to various deformation settings and repeatability was maintained within plus or minus one watt. Applications of this device in the thermal control environment from solar storage are suggested.
- Publication:
-
Advances in Heat Pipe Technology
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981ahpt.proc..703R
- Keywords:
-
- Heat Pipes;
- Heat Transfer Coefficients;
- Liquid Flow;
- Structural Design;
- Thermal Conductivity;
- Conductive Heat Transfer;
- Deformation;
- Performance Tests;
- Periodic Variations;
- Prototypes;
- Solar Energy Conversion;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer