Heat pipe structure on heat transfer and energy saving performance of the wall implanted with heat pipes during the heating season

The heat transfer coefficient of the wall implanted with heat pipes (WIHP) is closely related to its energy saving potential. In this paper, the influence factors of heat pipe structure on heat transfer coefficient were analyzed to enhance the heat transfer performance of the WIHP, such as the working temperature, the ratio of the evaporating section length (RESL) and the diameter of the heat pipe. The results show that the average equivalent heat transfer coefficient (EHTC) of the WIHP reaches the maximum of 1.24 W/(m2 °C) at a RESL of 75%, and the RESL should be optimized based on the working-hours-weighted mean temperature. There is an approximately linear relationship between the average EHTC and the diameter of heat pipe. The energy saving potential of a typical building with the WIHP in Tianjin, China was analyzed, which shows that the WIHP has a great energy saving potential during the heating season.