Study on the Cooling Method of Car Engine Pistons - Part 2, Cooling Using Heat Pipes

In our preceding report [1], we showed that the thermal conductivity of a heat pipe dramatically improves during high-speed reciprocation. However, this cooling method has rarely been applied to car engine pistons because the thermal conductivity of commercially available heat pipes does not increase easily even if the pipe is subjected to high-speed reciprocation. In consideration of the data from our preceding report, we decided to investigate heat pipe designs for car engine pistons, propose an optimum design, and conduct thermal analysis of the design. As a result, we found that it is possible to transport heat from the central piston head area, where cooling is most needed, to the piston skirt area, suggesting the possibility of efficient cooling. Although this analysis is based on a number of assumptions and there are issues of durability and weight increase due to the incorporation of heat pipes, this approach may develop into a superior engine cooling system through creative efforts.