Heat pipe coolers use heat pipes’ effect in order to carry on calories from one area to another with an extremely high thermal conductivity.
They are generally made up of 3 elements :
- Evaporating plate : metal plate in contact with the electronic component to cool. The plate’s configuration adapts itself to the geometry of the component (dimensions, drilling, surface’s treatment).
- Heat pipes : assembled with the evaporating plate, they carry on calories from the evaporating area onto the condensing area. Their diameter and their position vary depending on the power to extract.
- Condenser area : it can be made up with metal fins that allow the dissipation of calories into a fluid (generally air) or a plate in contact with a colder surface.
At similar dimensions, thermal conductivity of heat pipes is 1000 better than copper and 1700 better than aluminum ! This exceptional property allows heat pipe cooler excellent cooling properties.
Characteristics
Technical datas
- Dissipated power : 1W to 30kW
- Working temperatures :-50°C to +200°C
- Thermal resistance: 5 to 40°C/kW
- Dissipation : Natural convection / Forced convection / Contact
Advantages
- Performance (better than any heat sinks)
- Independence system : none maintenance necessary
- Compactness
- Lightness
- Lifetime > 30 years
- Extraction of calories from confined environment
Applications
- Power Electronic
- Railway
- Aerospace / Defence
- Telecommunication
- Medical
- Hot spot management