Thermal performance of aluminium grooved heat pipes

Aluminium grooved heat pipes (AGHP) applied for space craft's thermal control systems are considered in the report. Inside AGHPs capillary structures have been optimized in order to make maximum capillary head at minimal hydrodynamic resistance taking into account technological ability of their manufacture. Experimental results of the thermal performances (thermal resistance and maximum heat transfer capability) of AGHPs' filled with ammonia are presented. Results of thermal engineering tests of AGHPs, that have been developed by the order of National Space Agency of Ukraine for “Lybyd”, “AMPOS-SM-KF”, “Cyclon-4” space crafts, and also within Russian space projects, are given in the report.