Development and examination of switchable heat pipes

• A thermal switch concept for intelligent temperature control is presented.
• Heat dissipation through a heat pipe is passively regulated.
• Switching is performed by a shape memory alloy actuator.
• Experimental investigations demonstrate a high potential for future applications.
• The computational model of the switch is able to predict the system's behavior.

The well-directed transmission of heat flux enables an efficient and demand-actuated temperature control of technical systems. By the combination of heat pipes and shape memory alloy actuators, an adaptive, passively working switch concept is developed and implemented, which automatically activates the heat flux through the heat pipe when reaching a certain temperature limit. Furthermore, the created numerical calculation model provides the opportunity to theoretically describe the behavior of the designed system. Measurements show the proof of the concept and validate the model for further optimizations of switchable heat pipes to be applied in various technical applications.