Channel Optimization to Improve Heat Transfer Performance of Micro Heat Pipe

Abstract

Increasing the capillary limit is essential to improve the heat transfer performance of heat pipes. In this study, we theoretically estimated the driving force of capillary permeation in an open rectangular microchannel with temperature difference along the flow direction. The theoretical prediction enables the channel optimization for increasing the maximum heat transfer rate of heat pipe. Experimentally, there kinds of microchannels with same channel width but different channel heights were fabricated on Si substrate for the micro heat pipe. The micro heat pipe with channel optimization demonstrated the better heat transfer performance than those of the others and thus verified the theoretical prediction.