Fluid Mechanics of Heat Pipes

Many specialists in fluid mechanics probably have not heard of heat pipes or fully realized the potential of this new technology. The heat pipe is a thermal device recently discovered and developed for the efficient transport of thermal energy (Grover et al 1964, Cotter 1965). It is a closed structure (Figure 1) containing a working fluid that transports thermal energy from one part (evaporator) to another (condenser) by means of liquid vaporization in the evaporator, vapor flow in the core region, vapor condensation in the condenser, and condensate return to the