How Does a Vapor Chamber Heat Sink Work?

In the most common vapor chamber heat sink configuration, the heat source makes direct contact with the underside center portion of the vapor chamber and a finned heat sink as attached to the top side. Some of the working fluid (water) vaporizes and travels to cooler areas. The fin array absorbs this heat causing the vapor to condense and return to liquid form. This liquid is reabsorbed by the wick material and distributed, through capillary action, to the heat source where the cycle repeats.

                                                    
                                                                                                     Vapor Chamber Heat Sink Work

Vapor chambers operate under the same working principles as heat pipes. They have a metal enclosure which is vacuum sealed, an internal wick structure attached to the inside walls, and move liquid around the system using capillary action. As seen in the figure above, vapor chambers can be used to spread heat to a local condenser or move it to a remote one. However, spreading heat is by far the most common use of vapor chambers. Heat pipes are usually used when heat needs to be moved to a remote condenser.
                                                   
                                                                                                   Vapor Chamber Heat Sink Process