Studies on heat transfer performances of a heat pipe radiator used in desktop PC for CPU cooling

Studies on a heat pipe radiator which used in the desktop PC are carried out experimentally and numerically. Simulated results show that heat pipe radiators possess much better temperature distribution uniformity performance than ordinary finned radiators. Influences of CPU power, heat pipe diameter and heat pipe numbers on heat transfer performances of heat pipe radiator also get detailed investigation herein, and a formula used to calculate the surface temperature of CPU block is deduced on the basis of simulation results. Consistence between experimental data and simulated values verified the validity and accuracy of the established numerical model, optimization of radiator´s structural parameters such as pipe diameters and pipe numbers can be carried out conveniently by numerical simulation methods.