ABSTRACT
Heat pipe design involves the determination of heat pipe characteristics under steady-state or transient operating conditions. Design criteria constitute externally imposed conditions to which the heat pipe design must conform. Design constraints represent more qualitative restrictions that are to be taken into account in the heat pipe design to the maximum practical extent. An upper temperature limit on a component being cooled by a heat pipe is an example of a design criterion. The heat sink temperature would be specified, along with information needed to calculate the heat transfer rate between the heat pipe and the heat sink. Constraints on heat pipe size and weight may be imposed by volume restrictions of the application and the need for minimal system weight. Limitations on heat pipe length may result from static liquid pressure drops produced by gravity and/or external acceleration.
