Analysis of Heat Transfer Factors for a Heat Pipe Absorber Array Connected to a Common Manifold

Abstract

Heat transfer factors and thermal efficiency are calculated for a heat pipe absorber array connected to a common manifold. Arrays with less than ten heat pipes are shown to have significantly less efficiency than a conventional flow-through collector. Efficiency is also sensitive to the heat transfer rate per unit temperature difference from the heat pipe fluid to the manifold fluid divided by that from the heat pipe surface to the ambient, with maximum efficiency occurring for ratios greater than 100.