Electrohydrodynamic Pumping Enhances Operation of Heat Pipe

Experiments have shown that electrohydrodynamic pumping can be utilized to increase the heat-transport capacity of a heat pipe. More specifically, electrohydrodynamic pumping can be used to increase the flow of liquid to the evaporator section of the heat pipe; the increased flow helps to prevent dryout of the evaporator during a startup transient or during operation at a high heat-transport rate. Electrohydrodynamic pumping can also accelerate recovery from dryout.