Heatpipe effectiveness in tower cases.

[flashbacck]

Everyone and their mother seems to be building heatpipes into their heatsinks. As I understand it, liquid at the bottom of the heatpipe (near the CPU) absorbs the heat, evaporates, cools and condenses at the top of the heatpipe, then flows back down (via gravity) to be reheated, etc.

So for heatpipes to be effective, don't they have to be oriented in a vertical manner? And if that's true, then how do they work effectively in tower cases where the heatsink will be horizontal?

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

www.heatsink-guide.com/ >advanced cooling >heat pipes.......Read it. Mmmkay. ;-)


...Galvanized

 

[grimlykindo]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
www.heatsink-guide.com/ >advanced cooling >heat pipes.......Read it. Mmmkay. ;-)


...Galvanized

Well said Mr. Mackey
:thumbsup:

 

[flashbacck]

Vertical orientation required - In our simple model heat pipe, the working fluid simply drips back to the heat source. It is quite obvious that this design will only work in vertical orientation. To overcome this limitation, commercially available heat pipes do not rely on gravity alone to move the liquid back to the heat source; they take advantage of capillary action. The inside of the heat pipe tube is filled with a capillary structure, often referred to as wick.

Different structures are being used:


The most simple structure is a grooved tube. Here, capillary action merely helps gravity; vertical orientation of the heat pipe is usually still required.
Most commonly used, due to better capillary action, is a multilayered metal mesh.
Sintered powder capillar structures allow the stronges capillar action, but are more expensive to manufacture. Even with this design, performance of the heat pipe still depends on the orientation, and upside-down operation usually still isn't possible.

Not only the wick itself influences the strength of the capillary action, but also the choice of working fluid. A high surface tension of the working fluid improves performance.

Interesting. Still, it makes me wonder if there's a difference in desktops and towers. Anyone want to experiment? 🙂 Just play something for 30mins, take a temp, then turn your case on it's side and repeat.

 

[flashbacck]

another part of the article:

Heat pipes used in PC CPU coolers are usually inexpensive units with low capillary action. Considering this, the usage of a heat pipe on the CPU cooler, especially when installed in a tower case (vertical orientation of the heat pipe), is rather questionable.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

HSs that use heat pipes are keeping pace with most water cooling systems.

The type of fluid used and the wicking medium has not remained static since that short simple article was written.

FUD...Don't ever use a heat pipe HS because they don't work in a horizontal orientation!

ThermalRight says they work in outer space, a gravity free enviroment.

This road has been well traveled here.


...Galvanized

 

[flashbacck]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
HSs that use heat pipes are keeping pace with most water cooling systems.

The type of fluid used and the wicking medium has not remained static since that short simple article was written.

FUD...Don't ever use a heat pipe HS because they don't work in a horizontal orientation!

ThermalRight says they work in outer space, a gravity free enviroment.

This road has been well traveled here.

...Galvanized

Hey, you directed me to that article. And I don't understand what you're saying. Don't use heatpipe HS's because they don't work horizontally, or do use them because ThermalRight says it works. And jeez, sorry if this has been discussed to death already, I don't usually post in C&C and nothing showed up on search.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

I'm pulling your leg pretty hard 😀 Did you read the more scientific link at the bottom of that

article?...Text..It loads real slow and I'm on DSL.

My intent was not to offend. I have no need to be impotent. 😀 (your sig)


...Galvanized