An experimental investigation and optimization of screen mesh heat pipes for low-mid temperature applications

The perspectives of utilization of a screen mesh heat pipe (HP) for low to medium operating temperature applications are studied in this study. A two-dimensional mathematical model for heat and mass transfer of HPs is presented to define its performances under steady state operations. The model couples heat conduction in the wall with both liquid flow in the wick and vapor flow in the core. Experimental analysis is developed to evaluate the influence of operating parameters (the orientation and the cooling temperature) as well as the evaporator section length on the performance of the HP. Furthermore, a modeling approach to optimize the HP performance from a thermal point of view is presented. Using the heat transfer capability and total thermal resistance as the objective function and the structure parameters as the decision variable, the optimization design for the HP is performed using the Non-Dominated Sorting in Genetic Algorithms-II (NSGA-II). The results show that the optimal wick thickness and wick permeability to be a strong function of the heat flux. It is concluded that to have lower thermal resistance at lower heat fluxes for a screen mesh wick HP may have a large effective thermal conductivity, but have a small permeability. While at high heat transfer rate a small effective thermal conductivity, but a large permeability is recommended. The designer must always make trade-offs between these competing factors to obtain an optimal wick design. The investigations are aimed to determine working limits and thermal performance of HPs for low to medium operating temperature applications.