 Difference between heat pipes and pulsating heat pipes
HEAT PIPES OSCILLATING HEAT
Manufacturin The fabrication is complex due to
g different shapes of the wicks and
inserts are required to keep them
in place (adhered to the wall of
the pipe).
Performance The performance can be better
than wickless structures as it
avoids drying out for longer heat
loads due to capillary flow to the
heated end.
Simplicity Wick structure and its material is
complex and also maintenance is
difficult as well as costly.
Challenges Long life of wick structure and
standard process of inserting the
wick.
 Thermosyphon
Based on construction and working phenomenon, thermosyphon is a type of heat pipe.
Principle: It uses passive heat exchange method with natural convection without using
pump.
PIPES
These are much simpler to
fabricate as there are no wick
structures to insert or adhere to
the walls of the heat pipe.
Performance is weak on longer
heat loads if capillary pumping
head decreases (too long size of
bubble).
Wick structure’s absence makes it
lighter and convenient to use. Also
less expensive to build.
Long dry out lengths for large
bubble size is a challenge
As shown above, in thermosyphon the tank is completely filled with fluid (FR 100%). Natural
convection of the liquid starts when heat transfer to the liquid gives rise to a temperature
difference from one side of the loop to the other.
The warmer fluid on one side of the loop is less dense and thus more  buoyant than the
cooler fluid on the other side. The warmer fluid will "float" above the cooler fluid, and the
cooler fluid will "sink" below the warmer fluid. Convection moves the heated liquid upwards
in the system as it is simultaneously replaced by cooler liquid returning by gravity.

 Features
1) They are always gravity driven.
2) Loop structure enables enhancement of heat transfer and minimization of losses
due to pressure drop.
3) Better performance compared to Heat Pipes working with gravity.