Experimental Study on Comprehensive Performance of Sintering Biporous Wicks Prepared by Salt Dissolution and Cold Pressing Process

Abstract

Porous wicks are a key component of loop heat pipes (LHPs). In order to enhance the antigravity and long-distance operation ability of the LHP, a porous wick is required to have the characteristics of high permeability and high capillary suction capability. In this paper, biporous wicks were prepared by salt dissolution pore-forming technology, and a gas resistance testing platform and a capillary suction testing platform were setup to test the samples. The current research studies the effects of different pore-forming agent mass ratios (10%, 30%, and 40%) and different cold pressing pressures (30 kN, 40 kN, 50 kN, and 60 kN) on the porosity, permeability, and the suction speed. The study finds that the porosity, permeability, and the total suction mass of the porous wicks all increase when the NaCl mass increases; the increase of the suction speed is proportional to the increase of the porosity and the permeability, and hence, proportional to the increase of NaCl mass. The total suction mass and suction speed is inversely proportional to cold pressing pressure.