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What Is A Heat Pipe Heat Sink?

Date:2022-07-18 

Introduction
A heat pipe heat sink is the latest technology to help you dissipate heat through the process of phase transition. Heat is transferred from one solid interface to another solid interface through heat pipe heat sinks. The volatile liquid at the hot interface turns into a vapor phase.
Once the liquid is transitioned into the vapor phase, it travels to the cold interface through a heat pipe. At this point, the vapors are condensed into liquid resulting in latent heat. The cycle repeats when the condensed liquid returns back to the hot interface.


                                               Pioneer Thermal heat pipe heat sink
The heat pipe heat sinks are made of materials with high thermal conductivity. An interesting thing to note is that the effectiveness of heat pipe heat sinks varies with varying lengths of heat pipes. Nowadays, there are multiple uses of heat pipe heat sinks in various devices. Basically, the purpose is to get the heat dissipation out of the system.
If you want to know in-depth knowledge about heat pipe heat sinks, then you have to read this article. This article contains everything about working, construction, types, applications, and limitations of your heat pipe heat sinks. Just make sure you read it thoroughly for a better understanding.
Advantages A Heat Pipe Heat Sink
✔Heat pipe heat sink contains reliable as well as safe operations. The best part about this one is that it doesn't pollute your environment.
✔Heat pipe heat sinks possess a good thermal and isothermal balance. Moreover, it contains a very small cooling section and evaporation section in the temperature gradient. It is approximately equal to 0.
✔The special advantage of a heat pipe heat sink is that you don't have to maintain it. It doesn't even require an external power supply.
✔A heat pipe heat sink consists of high efficiency for heat dissipation. You can easily simplify the heat dissipation structure of your equipment through it. For example, you can attain varying air cooling options for self-cooling.
✔Heat pipe heat sinks give you lightweight as well as small size. This is why it is preferred by many customers.
✔You get a quick thermal response through heat pipe heat sinks. You will be surprised to know that it possesses a heat dissipation capacity 1000 times greater than copper tubes.
Limitations Of Heat Pipe Heat Sinks
Although heat pipe heat sinks possess multiple amazing advantages, they also contain some limitations. In order to know better about heat pipe heat sinks, you must be aware of all those limitations. Some common limitations of your heat pipe heat sinks are listed below:
As a matter of fact, you have to tune the heat pipe heat sinks to some particular cooling conditions. It is important to note down that the working of heat pipe heat sinks is affected by various factors. These factors can be the size and the choice of material, etc.
The above-mentioned factors also affect the optimal temperature at which your heat pipe heat sinks work.
When you design the heat pipe heat sinks outside of a particular range, there occurs a reduction in the thermal conductivity of heat pipe heat sinks.
There also exists material limitations that make it difficult for manufacturers to make traditional heat pipe heat sinks.
How Is Heat Pipe Heat Sink Constructed?
A metal tube is utilized in the construction of your heat pipe heat sinks. Note that you have to seal the metal tube under a partial vacuum. There exists an inner wick lining in your copper heat pipe. This will act as a capillary material for very little fluid.
When you apply heat to the surface of the heat pipe heat sink, the fluid changes its phase into vapors very easily.
                                                                Pioneer Thermal Heat Pipe Heat Sink Constructed
The change in phase of liquid into vapors creates a pressure that causes the vapor to flow towards the cooling section. The liquid condenses in the cooling section and then it repeats the same cycle.
You can use different fluids in heat pipe heat sinks as phase transition material. Due to the high latent heat of deionized water, it is mostly utilized in heat pipe heat sink construction. Deionised water is also preferred due to its high boiling temperature, thermal conductivity, and surface tension.
Different Types Of Heat Pipe Heat Sinks?
Heat pipe heat sinks also possess different types and you can choose them according to your requirements. Those types of heat pipe heat sinks are listed below:
Vapor Chambers
These pipes are usually preferred for iso-thermalization of surfaces and heat flux transformation.
Variable Conductance Heat Pipes
In this type of heat pipe heat sink, you have to use a noncondensable gas. The purpose of this gas is to change the effective thermal conductivity of the heat pipe. This process occurs with changing power or heat sink conditions.
Pressure Controlled Heat Pipes
In this kind of heat pipe heat sinks, the noncondensable gas and volume of the reservoir can be varied. This is done basically to achieve precise control over the temperature.

Diode Heat Pipes
These kinds of heat pipe heat sinks possess high thermal conductivity. However, this higher thermal conductivity lies in the forward direction only. On the other hand, there exists low thermal conductivity when the process takes place in the reverse direction.
Thermosyphons
In these kinds of heat pipe heat sinks, gravitational forces come into action to return the liquid to the evaporator.
Rotating Heat Pipes
In these kinds of heat pipe heat sinks, centrifugal forces come into action to return the liquid to the evaporator.
Applications Of Heat Pipe Heat Sinks
Heat pipe heat sinks are widely used across the world for thermal management in your devices. Some most important applications of heat pipe heat sinks are listed below:
✔Space crafts
✔Computer systems
✔Solar thermal
✔Permafrost cooling
✔Cooking
✔Ventilation heat discovery
✔Nuclear power conversion
✔Wankel rotary combustion engines
✔Heat pipe heat exchangers
Apart from all these applications, there are some currently developed applications. All those applications are given below:
Before proceeding further, it is important to keep in mind the high adaptability of heat pipe heat sinks implemented in various systems.
Heat pipe heat sinks are used to improve geothermal heating efficiency. The purpose of this act is the prevention of slippery roads in cold climate zones.
Heat pipe heat sinks are coupled with the solar panel to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic cells. The purpose of this application is to transport generated heat from the overheated panels. It plays an important role in maximum energy generation and maintaining optimal temperature.
The hybrid control rod heat pipe heat sinks are used to turn off the nuclear reactor. This act is performed in case of an emergency. It helps to transfer the heat away to prevent too much heat in reactors.
Conclusion
Heat pipe heat sinks are a great way to keep your electrical and mechanical devices effective and efficient. The interesting process of phase transition helps the heat pipe heat sinks to get the active or passive heat dissipated from surface area. Keeping in mind the advantages and disadvantages of your heat pipe heat sinks, you can decide if your device needs them.
However, if you are a beginner or a new manufacturer, then you should know the construction of heat pipe heat sinks. This can help you make different types of heat sinks and implement them into your systems. If you are looking for some help or want to buy a heat pipe heat sink, then Contact Us now.
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