Materials Used

• Copper Rod
  This 3/4 inch by 2 feet was used to build the heat pipe which serves the purpose of acting as a cooler for a solar heating panel. Copper was chosen because of its excellence as a thermal conductor, its availability, and high melting point. The heat pipe would use these for its advantage and also not have the tendency to corrode. 

• Copper Tube Cap
  Two of the 3/4-inch lead-free wrought copper solder pressure tube caps were purchased. While one is a backup, the other is soldered on one end of the copper pipe. Its purpose is to seal the end of the heat pipe.

 

• Male Adapter (copper)
  This 3/4 inch by 1/2 inch lead-free wrought copper solder male pressure adapter features a solder cup and a male NPT thread. It is soldered on the other end of the copper heat pipe. The M. Adapter was chosen because it permits the refilling of distilled water in the heat pipe. 

• Brass Pipe Cap
  The 1/2 inch FIP [lead free] brass pipe was purchased so that it could ease the pipe-fitting. This cap is suitable for usage with copper and has tapered pipe threads. The functionality would be as follows: once the water has been filled in the pipe through the adapter, this cap would be employed as a temporary seal. 

• Wire Meshing
  36 inches by 84 inches of wire mesh was bought as the capillary wicking material for the copper heat pipe. 

• Teflon Tape 
  This tape would allow the brass piece to be more tightly wound to the M. adapter to prevent any vapor from leaking out of the pipe. 

• Distilled water (25-30% the length of the heat pipe)