EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF EFFECTIVE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY FOR LHP WICKS

In this study, the effective thermal conductivity (ETC) of sintered loop heat pipe wicks, with pure nickel powders, pure copper powders, Ni-10wt%Cu powders and Ni-20wt%Cu powders were experimentally investigated. The ETC of sintered Ni-Cu wicks is found less than those of sintered pure nickel wick and sintered pure copper wicks. In the same porosity level, addition of copper into nickel will reduce ETC of the sintered Ni-Cu wicks. The sintered Ni-20wt%Cu wick presents the lowest ETC among the tested wick samples. Compared to experimental results, Alexander model can provide a reasonable prediction in some wick samples.