A multiscale composite silicon carbide wick with excellent capillary performance. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Huawei; Tang, Yifan; Bai, Pengfei; Guo, Wei; Luo, Yuhao; Li, Shixiao; Zhang, Xiaotong; Zhou, Guofu
• Is Part Of: International communications in heat and mass transfer. Volume 139(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: SiC wick -- Multiscale -- Capillary performance -- Wettability -- Laser ablation; Heat -- Transmission -- Periodicals; Mass transfer -- Periodicals; Chaleur -- Transmission -- Périodiques; Transfert de masse -- Périodiques; Heat -- Transmission; Mass transfer; Periodicals; 621.4022
• DOI: 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2022.106478
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0735-1933

Abstract

Abstract: Wick is the key component of the heat pipe. Composite wick with multiscale porous structure has gained increasing interest for the high permeability and large capillary pressure. In this study, a grooved silicon carbide wick (GSCW) with a multiscale porous structure was fabricated via sintering and laser ablation. The resultant wick is composed of main grooves, the surrounding porous space formed by the stacking silicon carbide (SiC) particles, the microscale netted pores, and nanoscale pores on the groove walls. The effects of laser energy density on the surface morphology, wettability, capillary rise velocity, and overall capillary performance parameter of the GSCW are investigated. The presented wick is hydrophilic. The capillary rise velocity in the initial stage of GSCW was 7 times that of sintered SiC wick. The capillary performance parameter increased with the increasing laser energy density. The laser-ablated grooves improve the capillary performance parameter over 50 times. The rising performances of water, acetone, methanol, and ethanol were tested. The wick thickness has a significant effect on the capillary performance. The comparison of GSCW with other composite wicks in the literature reveals that it has very good capillary performance, making it an excellent wicking structure for heat pipe. Highlights: Multiscale wick with laser-ablated grooves on the SiC wick was developed. The capillary rise performance is affected by the laser power energy. The wick exhibited the highest capillary rise height more than 115 mm. Laser-ablated grooves improve the capillary performance parameter over 50 times.