A multifunctional heat pipe sandwich panel structure

A multifunctional sandwich panel combining efficient structural load support and thermal management characteristics has been designed and experimentally assessed. The concept is based upon a truncated, square honeycomb sandwich structure. In closed cell honeycomb structures, the transport of heat from one face to the other occurs by a combination of conduction through the webs and convection/radiation within the cells. Here, much more effective heat transport is achieved by multifunctionally utilizing the core as a heat pipe sandwich panel. Its interior consists of a 6061 aluminum truncated-square honeycomb core covered with a stochastic open-cell nickel foam wick. An electroless nickel plating barrier layer inhibited the chemical reaction between the deionized water working fluid and the aluminum structure, retarding the generation of non-condensable hydrogen gas. A thermodynamic model was used to guide the design of the heat pipe sandwich panel. We describe the results of a series of experiments that validate the operational principle of the multifunctional heat pipe sandwich panel and characterize its transient response to an intense localized heat source. The systems measured thermal response to a localized heat source agrees well with that predicted by a finite difference method model used to predict the thermal response.