Yes, what you really from Josh is dead on. I’ve ended up specifically studying Loop Heat Pipes, in which an evaporator with a capillary wick structure serves as a passive pump without moving parts. This circulates fluid to a relatively ordinary heat exchanger which serves as a condenser. It works much better than conventional heat pipes over long distances and is pretty big in satellite thermal control for moving heat directly from electronics to the backs of solar panels. I think the HVAC energy savings in large data centers would be huge, if one could integrate this conveniently into a rack server system and plumb the rack to a central condenser outdoors. I’ve got a journal article in the works which I will send you a copy of when it’s at a state that I can distribute — a much better read than the dissertation itself.

It’s good to hear from you! Thanks for sending me feedback on my blog, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I feel your pain on the motivation problem.

Josh told me a little about your work three years ago or so, heat conduction, and specifically heat pipes. It sounds really interesting. I’d love to get a copy of your dissertation when you are done. I probably won’t read it in depth, but I’d love to skim it, and get a feel for what it’s about, and what you researched. My Bro. In Law just finished his Master’s dissertation, it was about how his research showed that selenium prevented prostrate cancer in mice, it was interesting.

Joey