TY - JOUR
TI - Numerical analysis of heat and mass transfer in heat pipe using a triple-phase coupled model
AU - Wu Zanxiu
AU - Lai Huanxin
JN - Thermal Science
PY - 2026
VL - 30
IS - 3
SP - 1727
EP - 1741
PT - Article
AB - A numerical prediction model is proposed to analyze the performance of heat pipe. The model is transient and applicable to both cylindrical and Cartesian co-ordinate systems. The vapor flow within the vapor core, the non-Darcian liquid-flow within the porous wick, and the phase change processes at the vapor-liquid interface are considered. The triple-phase coupling is realized through boundary conditions, imposed using user-defined functions. The model is employed to solve the hydraulic and heat transfer performance of heat pipes. A flat heat pipe and a cylindrical heat pipe are calculated to validate the model. Both steady and transient characteristics of the flat heat pipe are studied. It is found that the variation tendencies of the wall temperature difference, velocity and pressure drop of vapor and liquid are consistent. As heating power changes from 10-50 W, the maximum wall temperature difference rises from 0.75-2.41 K. The maximum velocity of vapor and liquid increases by 2.977 m/s and 9.72⋅10–5 m/s, respectively. Additionally, the maximum pressure drop of vapor and liquid increases by 13.9 Pa and 42 Pa, respectively. The heating power is found to be critical for the flow characteristics.
DO - 10.2298/TSCI250704191W
ER -