In this study, a 3D transient numerical modeling has been carried out to investigate the thermal behavior and performance of the grooved heat pipe. The results are compared with those obtained for an ungrooved heat pipe of the same size. The obtained results show better performance of the grooved heat pipe in terms of thermal capacity and heat transfer efficiency. The existence of grooves contributes to increase of the effective heat transfer surface area and improvement of capillary action which facilitate the flow of liquid back to the evaporator, ensuring a continuous supply of the liquid phase for effective heat absorption and transfer. Additionally, grooved heat pipes have a more uniform temperature distribution and a lower thermal resistance than ungrooved ones. With a heat load of 2.25 W, grooved heat pipes maintain thermal equilibrium and stable temperature differences between the evaporator and condenser sections, whereas ungrooved heat pipes experience significant increases in evaporator temperatures when heat loads exceed 1.75 W. The present findings can help for better understanding of the flow and heat transfer characteristics of grooved heat pipes and highlights their potential for improving thermal management systems.
