Design and Heat Transfer Analysis of a Novel Micro Heat Pipe Based on Inner Wall Rib Structure

With the increasing power density of electronic and industrial devices, efficient heat dissipation technology has become especially important. This is particularly true with the growing use of high-power LED lights in new energy vehicles, where compact and efficient thermal management solutions are crucial for the performance and longevity of these devices. In this study, a micro heat pipe structure with efficient heat transfer, simple structure, light weight, and small size is designed, making it particularly suitable for applications in confined spaces. By adding annular micro-ribs to the internal side walls of the evaporator and condenser sections of the phase-change micro heat pipe, it was found that, compared to the ribless design, the ribs increased fluid disturbances, promoted a more effective phase-change heat transfer process, and significantly improved the overall heat dissipation efficiency. Through fluid simulation testing of the ribs with different heights, widths, and spacings, it was found that smaller rib spacing significantly enhanced the heat transfer efficiency in the condenser section, while the height and width of the ribs, although complex in their effect on the evaporator section, were also key factors in improving heat transfer performance. Experimental results also showed that under high power conditions, the temperature in the condenser section of the ribbed heat pipe was significantly lower than that of the ribless heat pipe, with a temperature difference exceeding 20C, confirming the significant enhancement of heat transfer performance due to the ribs. This study provides new insights and a technical foundation for optimizing heat pipe heat dissipation performance, especially in thermal applications for high-power devices.