Peruslämpöputki

Peruslämpöputki, often translated as basic heat pipe, refers to a passive two-phase heat transfer device. It utilizes the principles of evaporation and condensation to efficiently move thermal energy from a hotter region to a cooler region. A sealed tube, typically made of metal, contains a working fluid. When one end of the heat pipe is heated, the working fluid inside evaporates, absorbing heat. This vapor then travels along the tube to the cooler end, where it condenses back into a liquid, releasing the absorbed heat. The condensed liquid then returns to the hot end, often through capillary action facilitated by a wick structure lining the inside of the tube, completing the cycle. The key advantage of a heat pipe is its high thermal conductivity, which can be orders of magnitude greater than that of solid conductors. This efficiency stems from the latent heat of vaporization and condensation of the working fluid. Common applications include electronics cooling, where they help dissipate heat from components like CPUs and GPUs, as well as in thermal management systems for spacecraft and solar collectors. The choice of working fluid and wick material depends on the operating temperature range and the specific heat transfer requirements.