Double wall artery heat pipe

The Universal Energy Systems, Inc., is conducting Advanced Heat Pipe Concepts and Two Phase Flow Heat Transfer Research for the enhancement of the transport capacity of heat pipes for space systems. A new composite wick concept called the Double-Wall artery has been developed for which the design requirements and calculations are discussed here in detail. A proof-of-the-concept copper-water heat pipe prototype unit, 1.2 m long and 22.2 mm diameter (OD) was fabricated and tested successfully. A nominal axial transport capacity of 1600 W m and radial heat flux density of 16 W/sq cm were achieved. This device was simpler to fabricate and had superior performance compared to several other counter-current vapor/liquid flow wick demonstrated 25 W sq cm of radial heat flux with a temperature drop of less than 10 C. Results of steady state thermal performance tests under no tilt, favorable and adverse tilt and liquid overfill/underfill conditions are reported. Condenser cooling methods included bath and evaporative types. Further modifications and improvements are also discussed.