by bdring » Sun Mar 03, 2013 3:59 pm
You basically model a heat pipe as if it has hundreds of times the thermal conductivity of aluminum. You then need to get the heat out of them, but it can be done at a more convenient place, over a larger area. They work especially well when they are vertical with the hot end down. Gravity helps return the fluid.
You can bend them over a form. Some have sintered wick material that can be damaged by bending. If you made a little coil at the bottom and damaged the wick it might not matter much.
The little ones are not that expensive. We use a few at work and the rep is always giving them away as tchotchkes.
Bart
"If you didn't build it, you will never own it."