Heat pipes offer a cost-conscious way of designing air conditioning systems for dehumidification. Their ability to greatly reduce frost formation on coils in supermarket settings makes them a valuable, yet economic asset.
To transfer heat, place the tube in the path of two airstreams. One airstream should be cooler than the other. As warmer air moves across the evaporator side, heat is absorbed, causing the internal medium to boil. The vapor pressure created from the boiling medium then pushes the gas toward the cooler airstream on the condenser side of the tube where the heat is then emitted to the environment.