THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF A FLAT-PLATE HEAT-PIPE COVERED PARTIALLY BY ASTRIP HEATER ON THE EVAPORATOR SECTION

An approximate method is presented for calculating the effective lengt h of a flat plate heat pipe when a strip heater is partially covering the evaporator section. For a specific width of the strip heater, the optimal position to achieve a minimum effective length is found when t he heater is placed symmetrically at the centre of the evaporator sect ion. In this position, a higher value of the capillary heat transport limit can be achieved as compared to the case where the heater is plac ed on one side of the evaporator section.