HTPIPE: A steady-state heat pipe analysis program: A user's manual

Abstract

A steady-state heat pipe analysis program, HTPIPE, operational on CRAY computers, is documented. HTPIPE has two input/output (I/O) options: pressure and temperature profiles along the heat pipe, and calculation of performance limits. Pressure and temperature profiles are calculated based on user-specified boundary conditions, which may be any two of the following: power throughput, evaporator exit temperature, source temperature, and sink temperature. The performance limits represent the maximum heat transport limits at a specified evaporator exit temperature. The calculated performance limits are the capillary, viscous, sonic, entrainment, and boiling limits. User input is interactive, with the available option of parametric variation during a single program execution to facilitate heat pipe design optimization. The hydrodynamic model is described. Program I/O is detailed and supplemented with examples. A program listing and a flow chart are included in this manual. HTPIPE is consistent with the theories and correlations used for heat pipe design at Los Alamos National Laboratory to date. 13 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.