Effective thermal conductivity of sintered heat pipe wicks

The effective thermal conductivity of sintered metal materials similar to those used in heat pipe wicks has been investigated. Experimental tests were conducted using both sintered Nickel 200 and sintered copper powders over a temperature range of 25°C to 100 QC. Data were obtained for samples with several porosities in both dry and water-saturated conditions. The effective thermal conductivity of the sintered materials was found to be a function of the thermal conductivity of the solid material from which the sintered metal was made, the porosity, the mean sample temperature, and whether the material was dry or saturated. The results of the experimental investigation are presented and compared with the experimental results and analytical solutions of other investigators. Nomenclature b = dummy variable c = dummy variable ke = effective thermal conductivity k( = thermal conductivity of the liquid ks = thermal conductivity of the solid r == radius of the contact point R = radius of the powdered particles x = dummy variable a = experimental parameter P =(l-v)/(l+v) g = porosity v =*,/*. pb = bulk density of the sintered material pg = density of the solid material