Comprehensive optimization design of ultra-thin flat heat pipe based on pressure-bearing and heat transfer performance

Abstract

With the development of high-power consumption and miniaturization of electronic devices, the high heat flux in limited space requires thinner thickness and better heat transfer performance of ultra-thin flat heat pipe (UFHP). Due to the decrease of UFHP thickness, the thickness of wall and vapor chamber, and the arrangement of support structure have completely different effects on pressure-bearing and heat transfer performance. Therefore, in order to reasonably design the structure of UFHP, it is necessary to consider both the pressure-bearing and heat transfer capacity. In this study, the deformation, thermal resistance and pressure drop of UFHP with support strips are analyzed. It is found that with the decrease of vapor chamber thickness, under the constraint of the maximum wall deformation, the rapid increase of thermal resistance and pressure drop caused by thin thickness could be reduced by optimizing the vapor chamber size. The size optimization model of UFHP based on pressure-bearing and heat transfer performance is established to guide the design of UFHP with support strips.

Keywords

• Ultra-thin flat heat pipe
• Support strip
• Deformation
• Size optimization