Simulation of heat pipe rapid transient performance using a multi-nodal implicit finite difference scheme

Heat pipes are being considered as a part of the thermal management system of many space crafts due to the fact that heat pipes are capable of passively transporting large amounts of thermal energy over considerable distances with essentially no temperature drop. Mathematical modeling of heat pipe performance has been developed for both transient and steady state modes: however, existing transient heat pipe models are of limited accuracy during vary rapid transients. The modeling of the response of the vapor region in the event of rapid transients (including frozen start-ups) has not been investigated fully. The purpose of this study is to model the performance of a screened wick heat pipe in rapid transient modes and to determine the limiting conditions under which the heat pipe will operate