Last updated 16/03/2005 21:15:39
The heatpipes are 5mm diameter in a broad flattened 'U' shape 111mm wide 35mm deep, giving overall length approximately 165mm.
They have been designed to work with the ends downward (inverted 'U') with the heat at each end (the vapour condensing in the long horizontal section). Their shape limits their usefulness a little, if one is going to make use of their full length then the ends of the 'U' will need to be horizontal, I don't think it would be wise to heat one end and cool the other with the 'U' vertical ('U' or inverted). It should be possible the heat the centre (anywhere along its lenght) and cool the end(s) while keeping the U verticle or horizontal. It is important to remember that liquid has to flow in the tube from the cool part to the heated part, and although the internal wick should cope if horizontal, it's desirable to have the heated part below the cooled part.
They work pretty well; dunk one end into a hot coffee and the end you're holding gets hot in a couple of seconds (a testiment to their thin copper construction). I'm not sure what level of operating power they are designed for, but punching the numbers into Thermocore's calculator suggests about 8 watts @ 40'C (I managed to get 14w @40'C out of my home brew Heatpipe, but at 10mm diameter they are a little unwieldy.).
Straightening is a no no, but I was able to twist it so the ends are at 90 degress to each other.
I tried measuring the operating power; it appears somewhat lower that the calculation and my be as low as 3W @ 40'C per pipe, rising to about 7.5W @ 50'C
They have been designed to work with the ends downward (inverted 'U') with the heat at each end (the vapour condensing in the long horizontal section). Their shape limits their usefulness a little, if one is going to make use of their full length then the ends of the 'U' will need to be horizontal, I don't think it would be wise to heat one end and cool the other with the 'U' vertical ('U' or inverted). It should be possible the heat the centre (anywhere along its lenght) and cool the end(s) while keeping the U verticle or horizontal. It is important to remember that liquid has to flow in the tube from the cool part to the heated part, and although the internal wick should cope if horizontal, it's desirable to have the heated part below the cooled part.
They work pretty well; dunk one end into a hot coffee and the end you're holding gets hot in a couple of seconds (a testiment to their thin copper construction). I'm not sure what level of operating power they are designed for, but punching the numbers into Thermocore's calculator suggests about 8 watts @ 40'C (I managed to get 14w @40'C out of my home brew Heatpipe, but at 10mm diameter they are a little unwieldy.).
Straightening is a no no, but I was able to twist it so the ends are at 90 degress to each other.
I tried measuring the operating power; it appears somewhat lower that the calculation and my be as low as 3W @ 40'C per pipe, rising to about 7.5W @ 50'C
Experimenting with the heat pipes from a Zalman ZM-2HC1 HDD cooler
