Performance analysis of a cylindrical heat pipe with corrugated wick

Heat pipes are highly efficient thermal management systems that leverage phase change and capillary action to transfer heat with minimal thermal resistance. This study investigates the role of the wick-vapor interface geometry in the performance of a heat pipe. The impact of wick-vapor interface geometry and its surface area on phase change heat transfer rates remains insufficiently explored. To address this gap, the study investigates the influence of an enhanced wick-vapor interface area on heat pipe performance by introducing a novel stepped corrugated wick design. A two-dimensional finite element model is developed and solved at steady state. Sensitivity analysis identifies step height as the key parameter. Optimization using the BOBYQA algorithm yields 7.4 K reduction in evaporator temperature and an enhancement of 131 % improvement in Temperature-Pressure Index as compared to a smooth wick heat pipe of the same wick volume. The results show that the novel design increases thermal conductivity by up to 75 % for a particular heat input. These findings highlight the design’s potential to significantly enhance heat pipe efficiency for advanced thermal management applications.