UDC 536.24

D. Mishkinis and J. M. Ochterbeck

HOMOGENEOUS NUCLEATION AND THE HEAT PIPE BOILING LIMITATION

Criteria for phase change in classical heat pipes and 
loop heat pipes with microporous capillary structures of wicks have 
been formulated and developed. The criteria are based on homogeneous 
nucleation and cluster theory to evaluate the superheat required for 
phase change to occur in microchannels. The results can be employed 
in analyzing the limiting operational criteria and heat transfer capacity 
of heat pipes based on the boiling limit.

Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29631, USA; email: Donatas@CLEMSON.EDU. 
Original article submitted December 24, 2002.