Infrared thermographic testing of hyperconductive flat heat pipes

Active infrared thermography has been applied for the evaluation of the internal structure and operation quality of hyperconductive flat mini heat pipes used in satellite electronics. The distribution of effective transverse thermal diffusivity in heat pipes has been obtained by means of the Parker technique to exhibit areas with low content of fluid in the porous structure. The lateral components of thermal diffusivity were determined by placing a slit mask between a flash heater and a heat pipe. Peculiarities of heat pipe operation in a working regime have been experimentally studied by placing a local heat source on the pipe surface and following the surface temperature dynamics