Abstract: A method for forming an annular heat pipe wick in a controlled atmosphere includes wrapping a plurality of layers of a fine mesh screen around a mandrel to form a wick. The method also includes inserting the mandrel and the wick into a sheath, and compressing the wick between the sheath and the mandrel to form an assembly. The compressing of the wick comprises applying pressure to an exterior of the mandrel and the sheath. The method further includes diffusion bonding the assembly at a temperature sufficiently high achieving self-diffusion of the plurality of layers of the fine mesh screen used to form the wick to themselves. The method also includes cooling the diffusion bonded assembly to room temperature, and etching the mandrel and sheath from the diffusion bonded assembly, leaving the wick as a porous tube.

Abstract: A pump assisted heat pipe may combine the low mass flow rate required of latent heat pipe transfer loops with a hermetically sealed pump to overcome the typical heat pipe capillary limit. This may result in a device with substantially higher heat transfer capacity over conventional pumped single-phase loops, heat pipes, loop heat pipes, and capillary pumped loops with very modest power requirements to operate. Further, one or more embodiments overcome the gravitation limitations in the conventional heat pipe configuration, e.g., when the heat addition zone is above the heat rejection zone, the capillary forces are required to transfer the liquid from the heat rejection zone to the heat addition zone against gravity.

Abstract: A fill tool system that fills, seals, and inspects a heat pipe array, which includes one or more heat pipes with heat pipe working fluid.

Abstract: A pump assisted heat pipe may combine the low mass flow rate required of latent heat pipe transfer loops with a hermetically sealed pump to overcome the typical heat pipe capillary limit. This may result in a device with substantially higher heat transfer capacity over conventional pumped single-phase loops, heat pipes, loop heat pipes, and capillary pumped loops with very modest power requirements to operate. Further, one or more embodiments overcome the gravitation limitations in the conventional heat pipe configuration, e.g., when the heat addition zone is above the heat rejection zone, the capillary forces are required to transfer the liquid from the heat rejection zone to the heat addition zone against gravity.