Two New Mini-Powerhouses from Shuttle

How A Heat Pipe Works

A heat pipe uses a hollow receptacle (metal pipe) to transport heat directly from one point to another. The metal pipe is filled with fluid, 90 percent of which is distilled water; the remainder consists of special ingredients added to optimize the liquid's thermal transfer properties. Here's how it works: the liquid is subjected to a very low pressure, reducing the evaporation point to approximately 30 degrees Celsius. When cold, the pipe contains very little water. However, when the heat pipe contacts the CPU directly on one end, the water evaporates and transports the thermal energy to the cold end of the pipe.

How a heat pipe works.