Capillary evaporator development and qualification for loop heat pipes

Abstract In the present paper, design consideration, fabrication techniques and post-assembly qualification tests to guarantee reliable structure of the capillary evaporator for loop heat pipe (LHP) with high heat flux transport capability has been presented. Cylindrical evaporator with nickel as high performance capillary pump, copper as high conductivity containment material and water as superior heat transfer working fluid was designed to transport 500 W heat load up to distance of 250 mm. Nickel powder with average particle diameter of 12 μm was sintered to obtain wick with high porosity (>65%) and fine pore radius