Heat Pipe (2D) — Working Principle Simulation

Temperatures

T_hot (evaporator) 80°C

T_cold (condenser) 25°C

Geometry & Wick

Pipe length 0.30 m

Wick material

Live Readout

Q transported

— W

Q_max (capillary)

— W

State

—

k_eff

— kW/m·K

vs copper

—×

R_total

— K/W

How it works

A sealed pipe carries a small amount of working fluid. Heat at the evaporator vaporises it; the vapour races down the core to the cooler condenser and releases its latent heat there. A porous wick lining the wall returns the condensed liquid to the evaporator by capillary action, closing the loop with no pump.

R_total = R_evap + R_adiab + R_cond + R_wick
Q = min(ΔT / R_total, Q_max)
Q_max = capillary limit ∝ 1/L
k_eff = Q·L / (A·ΔT)
Copper k ≈ 400 W/m·K

Q is capped by the wick's capillary limit Q_max, which falls as the pipe gets longer. Push ΔT (or length) far enough that the ideal conduction load exceeds Q_max and the wick can no longer return enough liquid: the evaporator dries out, shown here as the liquid-return particles fading and a DRY-OUT banner.

Wall Liquid wick Vapour core