An individual heat pipe is made up of three basic components ; a sealed pipe (tube), a capillary wick
structure and working fluid.
In order to maximize the heat transfer, a capillary wick structure is formed inside the pipe and a fin is formed outside the pipe.
If the hot air(exhaust air/gas) passes through the evaporator section (high temperature side) of the heat pipe, the working fluid in the evaporator section takes away the heat of passed air and this evaporated working fluid is delivered to the condenser section(low temperature side) by pressure difference.
The hot air that has been passed through the evaporator section is cooled down.
The vapor of working fluid transferred to condenser section releases heat to cool air that has passed the condenser section.
The cold air passed through condenser section is heated by condensation latent heat of working fluid.
The vapor of working fluid transferred to condenser section releases heat to cool air that has passed the condenser section.
The cold air passed through condenser section is heated by condensation latent heat of working fluid.
The middle partition located in the center of heat pipe heat exchanger separates two counter currents.
The warm current at one end of the heat pipe evaporates the working fluid inside the heat pipe. Vapor from the working fluid penetrates the pipe and releases heat to cold current. Then the vapor is condensed and liquidated.
The condensed / liquidated working fluid returns to the warm end through the wick and the cycle is completed.
The heat pipe system operated by the difference of temperature between the warm and cold current. Basic heat pipe system does not have moving parts nor external electrical power and does not require mechanical maintenance.