Vapor Augmented Heatsink with Multi-Wick Structure

• US 20100078153A1
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Convergence Technologies (USA) LLC
• Original Assignee: Convergence Technologies (USA) LLC
• Inventors: Siu, Wing Ming
• Application Number:
  US12/632,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20100078153A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/104.260
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0233 the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/046 characterised by the material or the construction of the capillary structure
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2215/10 Secondary fins, e.g. projections or recesses on main fins
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/02 Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations F28F3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49353 Heat pipe device making

Abstract

A heat transfer device includes a base chamber, a fin chamber, and at least one fin. The chambers can be thermally coupled. The heat transfer device also includes a wick structure. The wick structure can include a multi-wick structure. The multi-wick structure can include a three-dimensional wick structure and/or a spatially varying wick structure.

Claims

1. A heat transfer device, comprising:

at least one chamber containing a condensable fluid, the chamber including;

an evaporation region configured to be coupled to a heat source for vaporizing the condensable fluid, and a condensation region comprising condensation surfaces configured to permit the vaporized condensable fluid to collect as condensate, wherein the at least one chamber is configured to cause the condensate to flow through increasingly less area in the vicinity of the evaporation region, giving rise to a converging flow condition as the condensate approaches the evaporation region; and

a multi-wick structure comprising a plurality of hydraulically interconnected wick structures extending from the evaporation region into the condensation region for facilitating flow of the condensate toward the evaporation region, wherein a wicking power of the multi-wick structure increases with decreasing flow distance to the evaporation region to facilitate an increased flow rate of the condensate as the condensate approaches the evaporation region, and wherein the multi-wick structure includes at least one wick structure bridge interconnecting portions of the multi-wick structure to facilitate flow of the condensate between the portions of the multi-wick structure.