Heat pipe system
A heat pipe apparatus having a sintered lattice wick structure includes a plurality of wicking walls having respective length, width and heights and spaced in parallel to wick liquid in a first direction along the respective lengths, the respective lengths being longer than the respective widths and the respective heights, the plurality of wicking walls being adjacent to one another and spaced apart to form vapor vents between them, a plurality of interconnect wicking walls to wick liquid between adjacent wicking walls in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a vapor chamber encompassing the sintered lattice wick structure, the vapor chamber having an interior condensation surface and interior evaporator surface, wherein the plurality of wicking walls and the plurality of interconnect wicking walls are configured to wick liquid in first and second directions and the vapor vents communicate vapor in a direction orthogonal to the first and second directions.
1. A method of forming a latticed wick structure, comprising: filling an interior portion of a planar heat spreader enclosure with fine metal particles; pressing a lattice wick structure mold into said fine metal particles; and sintering said fine metal particles; applying a first partial vacuum to said interior portion prior to said sintering of said fine metal particles; wherein a sintered lattice wick structure is formed from said fine metal particles.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying a first heat to said fine metal particles prior to said sintering of said fine metal particles; and introducing hydrogen gas to said fine metal particles to reduce oxidation of said fine metal particles.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
applying a second partial vacuum to said fine metal particles prior to said sintering of said fine metal particles.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
charging a vapor chamber with a two-phase working fluid to saturate said fine metal particles with said two-phase working fluid.