Ask Rick: Heat Pipe Tilt Mechanism | When are they used?

Heat Pipe Eneegy RecoveryQ.  When are Tilt Mechanisms used on Heat Pipes?

A.  In the early heat pipes a tilt mechanism was used to shift the heat pipe from summer to winter use.  It did this by physically lifting one end of the heat pipe.  That allowed refrigerant fluid to run back to the warm side of the heat pipe.

Today’s heat pipes do not need to be tilted.  Tilt mechanisms are no longer used.  The heat pipe tubes were increased in size which allows refrigerant to flow freely in both directions.   That’s all it took to get rid of the tilt mechanism.

Note that it is key to have the heat pipe completely level if both summer and winter heat exchange is required.

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