INVESTIGATION OF HEAT AND MASS-TRANSFER IN THE EVAPORATION ZONE OF A HEAT-PIPE OPERATING BY THE INVERTED MENISCUS PRINCIPLE

A theoretical investigation of heat and mass transfer during evaporati on in a wet capillary structure in contact with a heating wall is pres ented. The wall has grooves by which the vapour is removed. Setting an d results of the numerical investigation of the mathematical model (st ationary two-dimensional boundary problem with a free boundary corresp onding to the surface of the interphase transition inside the capillar y structure) are given. Calculations performed at different heat and h ydraulic loads allow one to trace the phases of the process evolution: origin and growth of vapour zones (bubbles). The evaporation intensit y distribution and functional characteristic of the capillary structur e have been found.