Wick structures and heat pipe networks

Abstract

A wick structure for a heat pipe network, the wick structure comprising multiple channels defined by wall portions protruding from a first surface of the wick structure and extending in an axial direction along a length of the wick structure, wherein at least one of the wall portions comprises a tapered termination.

1 . A wick structure for a heat pipe network, the wick structure comprising:
 multiple channels defined by wall portions protruding from a first surface of the wick structure and extending in an axial direction along a length of the wick structure, wherein at least one of the wall portions comprises a tapered termination at a junction between respective branches of the heat pipe network.   
     
     
         2 . A wick structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wick structure comprises a first wick portion in a first branch of the heat pipe network and a second wick portion in a second branch of the heat pipe network, wherein the termination of the wall portion is provided in the region between the first wick portion and second wick portion. 
     
     
         3 . A wick structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein alternate wall portions are provided with respective terminations. 
     
     
         4 . A wick structure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a wall portion has a curved profile. 
     
     
         5 . A wick structure as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the wall portion is curved at said region between the first wick portion and the second wick portion. 
     
     
         6 . A heat pipe network comprising an evaporator section in fluid communication with multiple heat pipe branches each comprising a respective condenser section within the network, wherein a heat pipe branch includes a wick structure on an internal surface thereof to promote a fluid flow from the respective condenser section to the evaporator section, the wick structure comprising multiple channels defined by wall portions depending radially inwards from an interior surface of a branch and extending in an axial direction along a length of a branch, wherein at least one of the wall portions comprises a tapered termination in a radial direction with respect to the heat pipe branch, wherein the termination of a wall portion is provided in the region of a junction between two branches of the condenser section. 
     
     
         7 . A heat pipe network as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein alternate wall portions are provided with respective terminations. 
     
     
         8 . A heat pipe network as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a wall portion has a curved profile. 
     
     
         9 . A heat pipe network as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the wall portion is curved around a junction between two branches of the condenser section. 
     
     
         10 . A heat pipe network as claimed in any of  claim 6 , wherein the heat pipe network is at least partially embedded in a heat sink. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 depositing multiple layers of material to additively manufacture a heat pipe network comprising a wick structure with multiple channels defined by wall portions to depend radially inwards from an interior surface of a heat pipe and to extend in an axial direction along a length of a heat pipe, wherein at least one of the wall portions terminates by tapering in a radial direction at a junction between respective branches of the heat pipe network.   
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising forming a heat sink around the heat pipe network. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , forming wall portions such that alternate wall portions terminate. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in any of  claim 11 , further comprising forming wall portions with curved profiles.