The Heat Pipe

Heat pipes are used to perform several important heat-transfer roles ia the chemical and closely aUied iadustries. Examples iaclude heat recovery, the isothermaliziag of processes, and spot cooling ia the mol ding of plastics. In its simplest form the heat pipe possesses the property of extremely high thermal conductance, often several hundred times that of metals. As a result, the heat pipe can produce nearly isothermal conditions making an almost ideal heat-transfer element. In another form the heat pipe can provide positive, rapid, and precise control of temperature under conditions that vary with respect to time. 

The heat pipe is self-contained, has no mechanical moving parts, and requires no external power other than the heat that flows through it. The heat pipe, which has been called a thermal superconductor, was described initially ia 1944 (1) but commercial use did not foUow. The same basic stmcture was again described ia 1963 ia conjunction with the space nuclear power program (2). 

The heat pipe has properties of iaterest to equipmeat desigaers. Oae is the teadeacy to assume a aeady isothermal coaditioa while carrying useful quantities of thermal power. A typical heat pipe may require as Htfle as one thousandth the temperature differential needed by a copper rod to transfer a given amount of power between two poiats. Eor example, whea a heat pipe and a copper rod of the same diameter and length are heated to the same iaput temperature (ca 750°C) and allowed to dissipate the power ia the air by radiatioa and natural convection, the temperature differential along the rod is 27°C and the power flow is 75 W. The heat pipe temperature differential was less than 1°C the power was 300 W. That is, the ratio of effective thermal conductance is ca 1200 1. 

A second property, closely related to the first, is the abiHty of the heat pipe to effect heat-flux transformation. As long as the total heat flow is ia equiHbrium, the fluid streams connecting the evaporatiag and condensing regions essentially are unaffected by the local power densities ia these two... 

The third characteristic of interest grows directly from the first, ie, the high thermal conductance of the heat pipe can make possible the physical separation of the heat source and the heat consumer (heat sink). Heat pipes >100 m in length have been constmcted and shown to behave predictably (3). Separation of source and sink is especially important in those appHcations in which chemical incompatibilities exist. For example, it may be necessary to inject heat into a reaction vessel. The lowest cost source of heat may be combustion of hydrocarbon fuels. However, contact with an open flame or with the combustion products might jeopardize the desired reaction process. In such a case it might be feasible to carry heat from the flame through the wall of the reaction vessel by use of a heat pipe. 

In many appHcations, especially in the chemical and semiconductor fields, the closest possible approach to isothermal operation may be desired. Under these conditions, the effects of vapor velocity must be considered if the velocity of the vapor exceeds about Mach 0.1, when a noticeable temperature differential shows itself in the heat pipe. If near isothermal operation is desired, designers restrict the vapor velocity to lower levels. 

Several wick stmctures are in common use. First is a fine-pore (0.14—0.25 mm (100-60 mesh) wire spacing) woven screen which is roUed into an annular stmcture consisting of one or more wraps inserted into the heat pipe bore. The mesh wick is a satisfactory compromise, in many cases, between cost and performance. Where high heat transfer in a given diameter is of paramount importance, a fine-pore screen is placed over longitudinal slots in the vessel wall. Such a composite stmcture provides low viscous drag for Hquid flow in the channels and a small pore size in the screen for maximum pumping pressure. 

The vessel, as weU as the wick, must be compatible with the working fluid. Where possible, the wick and vessel are made of the same material to avoid the formation of galvanic corrosion ceUs in which the working fluid can serve as the electrolyte. In addition to its role within the heat pipe, the vessel also serves as the interface with the heat source and the heat sink. 

G. Y. Eastman and D. M. Ernst, The Heat Pipe, A Unique and Versatile Devicefor Heat Transfer Applications, RCA, Lancaster, Pa., 1966. 

A recent development in heat recovery has been the heat tube. This is a sealed metal tube which has been evacuated of air and contains a small quantity of liquid which, for boiler applications, could be water. When heat from the flue gases is applied to one end of the heat pipes the water in the tube boils, turning to steam and absorbing the latent heat of evaporation. The steam travels to the opposite end of the tube which is surrounded by water, where it gives up its latent heat, condenses and returns to the heated end of the tube. Batteries of these tubes can be arranged to form units, usually as a water jacket around a section of a flue. 

The heat wheel The heat pipe The run-round coil The heat pump... 

Throughout the length of the gallery there is a floor of sheet iron with an empty space below filled with concrete except for the first three meters from the closed end, where the heating pipes are situated. 

Inside the gallery, at a distance of 3.4 m from the closed end a ring is fixed to which a paper partition is fastened so as to form a chamber of 10 m3. In the chamber a mixture of methane and air is prepared. In winter this is heated to a temperature of above 0°C by steam in the heating pipes beneath the floor. 

The heat pipe achieves its high performance through the process of vapor state heat transfer. A volatile liquid employed as the heat-transfer medium absorbs its latent heat of vaporization in the evaporator (input) area. The vapor thus formed moves to the heat output area, where condensation takes place. Energy is stored in the vapor at the input and released at the condenser. The liquid is selected to have a substantial vapor pressure, generally greater than 2.7 kPa (20 mm Hg), at the minimum desired operating temperature. The highest possible latent heat of vaporization is desirable to achieve maximum heat transfer and temperature uniformity with minimum vapor mass flow. 

---