EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF AN ARTERIAL HEAT PIPE

Results are presented from experimental studies of arterial liquid-met al heat pipes. Several wick designs are tested: wicks with reticular a rteries extending into the vapor channel; wicks with one or two closed ends. Reliable heat-pipe performance is obtained in static and dynami c regimes within the temperature range 673-973 K for any spatial orien tation, including a vertical orientation with the evaporation zone fac ing upwards. It is established that arterial pipes function well with the addition of a certain amount of a noncondensing gas, as well as wi th intensive local heat removal and vibrational loading.