The high heat transfer capacity of liquid-metal heat pipes is demonstrated in performance tests with mercury, potassium, sodium, and lithium working fluids and wick structures which serve to minimize liquid pressure losses and vapor/liquid interactions. Appropriate wicks for horizontal and vertical operation are described. It is shown that heat-transfer with these wicks is limited by vapor flow effects. Examples are given of particular effects associated with a long adiabatic section between evaporator and condenser and with a heat source of uniform temperature as opposed to a source of uniform power. (Se)
Performance investigations of liquid-metal heat pipes for space and terrestrial applications
Untersuchung des Leistungsvermoegens von Fluessigmetall-Waermeleitrohren fuer Anwendungen im Weltraum und auf der Erde
3RD INTERNAT. HEAT PIPE CONF., AIAA ; 260-267
1978
8 Seiten, 9 Bilder, 13 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch