High-Temperature Oscillating Heat Pipes

OHPs have exceptional thermal performance, achieving effective thermal properties orders of magnitude greater than the base materials of construction.

 The performance of state-of-the art high temperature OHPs is export controlled. Contact ThermAvant for more information

OHPs are multifunctional, meeting structural requirements with integrated thermal management. By reducing hot spots, embedding an OHP into a structural component enables more aggressive boundary conditions (e.g. Mach #), without exceeding an established service temperature ceiling.

OHPs can be made into customized geometries in thin, conformal form factors — including through features & complex 3D integration.

Elevated temperature OHPs are manufactured from structural materials with known properties at service temperature, e.g. titanium, nickel-based superalloys, and refractory metals.

Working fluids commonly used in conventional heat pipes (water, alkali metals) are suitable in OHPs, in addition to novel alternatives.

Fluid-specific software models for thermal conductance and limits of operation have been validated against empirical datasets, enabling predictive analysis for new designs.

Elevated temperature OHPs have been demonstrated with a variety of different architectures, including tubular, flat plate, additively manufactured, and hybrids. Hermetic joints are formed by welding, brazing, and diffusion bonding.

Because OHPs do not require a wick structure, manufacturing is generally less complex than a conventional heat pipe or vapor chamber of similar geometry

ThermAvant has specialized alkali metal heat pipe processing capabilities in-house.