An experimental study of high-temperature heat pipes with a capillary structure and the processes used in their manufacture

Experimental results are presented for high-temperature heat pipes whose structure consists of rectangular capillary grooves that are open to the steam flux, with sodium used as the heat-transfer agent. The 12Kh18N10T and 0Kh18N10T steel heat pipes tested here have been manufactured using an improved process including shaped-mandrel rolling followed by sink drawing. Expressions are obtained for calculating the geometric dimensions of a heat pipe from given capillary parameters and for calculating the power transfer corresponding to the hydrodynamic limit.