Investigating the Performance of Bi-Porous Disk-Shaped Wick With the Restricted Vapor Space by Developing an Electric Analogue Method

In this work, we build up a model applying our analogy strategy to investigate the performance of the Bi-porous wicks which are intended to eventually be used as the substrate in the TGP (Thermal Ground Plane) devices which function like thin heat pipes. In order to more closely simulate the operating conditions in a TGP, the vapor space above the wick is restricted, and consequently inserting vapor grooves in the wick is required to maintain the vapor removal. Further, adding a mono-porous layer at the bottom aids in delaying dry out by enhancing the liquid supply. [1] Here, we present our effort improving an electric analogue model to simulate the bi-porous wick described above. The model is based on the similarity between the differential equations governing the two systems. The analog model is initially improved for a disk-shaped bi-porous wick with a restrictor on top and grooves introduced in the bi-porous region. Moreover, the analogue technique is employed as a tool to investigate the performance of the wick with the vapor restrictor mounted thoroughly on top, to compare the experimental data achieved in a boiling chamber versus TGP device, and to estimate the required data for the bi-porous evaporator calculations.