Heat Pipes used as Heat Flux Transformers and for Remote Heat Rejection

Heat pipes are commonly used as a tool to improve thermal performance when conduction through solid metal (aluminum and/or copper) alone is unable transfer heat within the temperature drop budget. Heat pipes can be embedded into aluminum spreaders to significantly improve thermal performance by accepting the high heat flux generated by the electronics and spreading it to a level that can be managed by the ultimate heat sink. Heat pipes can also be used to transfer heat to remote fin stacks when geometry and environmental constraints do not allow for local heat rejection. These applications of heat pipes are becoming more valuable as electronics become more powerful and compact packaging becomes a primary design goal.