Theoretical Analysis of Active Mini-Groove Flat Heat Pipe Based on Electrohydrodynamics

The capillary limit tends to restrict the cooling of high heat flux electronic devices by traditional mini flat heat pipe. Electrohydrodynamics, with simple structure and little energy consumption, is an effective strengthening heat transfer technology. This paper sets up one dimensional axial steady fluid flow and heat transfer mathematical model of mini-groove flat heat pipe based on electrohydrodynamics, aiming at studying the axial distribution of working fluid pressure, velocity, etc. under different electrical field intensities. According to mathematical analysis, the maximum heat transfer limit of mini flat heat pipe under field intensity 13 kV•cm^-1 is 11.1 times of that without electrical field intensity under the condition of this paper. Applying electrical field to mini-groove flat heat pipe can enhance the liquid backflow from condensation section to evaporation section, decrease the requirement of capillary pressure difference for heat pipe and obviously improve the heat transfer capability of heat pipe, which can contribute to realizing the rapid cooling of high heat flux electronic devices.