Thermal analysis of heat pipes during thermal storage

A mathematical model has been developed to predict the thermal behaviour of heat pipes with thermal storage during a cooling cycle. A heat transfer model based upon the various mechanisms of conduction, convection as well as heat of fusion of the melted ice is presented. The thermal behaviour of heat pipes has also been studied experimentally and analyzed under different conditions. Comparisons were made against the experimental data for validation of the predictive model. The model fairly predicted experimental data obtained at various inlet conditions.