THERMAL CONTROL DEVICE WITH NETWORK OF INTERCONNECTED CAPILLARY HEAT PIPES
First Claim
1. A thermal control device, comprising at least one network of capillary heat pipes, in which each heat pipe comprises a tube enclosing a longitudinal and substantially annular capillary structure, for circulating a two-phase heat transfer fluid in liquid phase, and surrounding a central channel for circulating said two-phase fluid in vapor phase, and wherein said tubes of at least two heat pipes of said network intersect and are interconnected in such a way that at each intersection of heat pipes forming a node of said network, an exchange of fluid in liquid phase can take place by capillary action between said capillary structures of said at least two heat pipes, and such that, simultaneously, an exchange of fluid in vapor phase can take place by free circulation between said central channels of said at least two heat pipes.
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Abstract
The thermal control device comprises at least one network of capillary heat pipes, in which each heat pipe comprises a tube enclosing an essentially annular longitudinal capillary structure, for the circulation of a two-phase heat-transfer fluid in the liquid phase, and surrounding a central channel for the circulation of said two-phase fluid in the vapor phase. The tubes of at least two heat pipes of the network intersect and are interconnected in such a way that at each intersection of heat pipes forming a node of the network, an exchange of fluid in the liquid phase can take place by capillary action between the capillary structures of said two or more heat pipes, and such that, simultaneously, an exchange of fluid in the vapor phase can take place by free circulation between the central channels of said two or more heat pipes.
43 Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A thermal control device, comprising at least one network of capillary heat pipes, in which each heat pipe comprises a tube enclosing a longitudinal and substantially annular capillary structure, for circulating a two-phase heat transfer fluid in liquid phase, and surrounding a central channel for circulating said two-phase fluid in vapor phase, and wherein said tubes of at least two heat pipes of said network intersect and are interconnected in such a way that at each intersection of heat pipes forming a node of said network, an exchange of fluid in liquid phase can take place by capillary action between said capillary structures of said at least two heat pipes, and such that, simultaneously, an exchange of fluid in vapor phase can take place by free circulation between said central channels of said at least two heat pipes.
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21. A method for cooling an active antenna comprising radiofrequency tiles, having similar dimensional characteristics and which are arranged at regular intervals, on a supporting structure in the form of a grid with the help of a thermal control device, comprising at least one network of capillary heat pipes, in which each heat pipe comprises a tube enclosing a longitudinal and substantially annular capillary structure, for circulating a two-phase heat transfer fluid in liquid phase, and surrounding a central channel for circulating said two-phase fluid in vapor phase, and wherein said tubes of at least two heat pipes of said network intersect and are interconnected in such a way that at each intersection of heat pipes forming a node of said network, an exchange of fluid in liquid phase can take place by capillary action between said capillary structures of said at least two heat pipes, and such that, simultaneously, an exchange of fluid in vapor phase can take place by free circulation between said central channels of said at least two heat pipes, wherein at least one network of heat pipes of said device is integrated into said supporting structure of said active antenna, and the heat collected by said network is drawn off to at least one radiator by at least one of an extension from said network of heat pipes and at least one other network of heat pipes of said device and at least one fluid loop of said device.
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22. A method of cooling a supporting wall for mounting electronic equipment with the help of a thermal control device, comprising at least one network of capillary heat pipes, in which each heat pipe comprises a tube enclosing a longitudinal and substantially annular capillary structure, for circulating a two-phase heat transfer fluid in liquid phase, and surrounding a central channel for circulating said two-phase fluid in vapor phase, and wherein said tubes of at least two heat pipes of said network intersect and are interconnected in such a way that at each intersection of heat pipes forming a node of said network, an exchange of fluid in liquid phase can take place by capillary action between said capillary structures of said at least two heat pipes, and such that, simultaneously, an exchange of fluid in vapor phase can take place by free circulation between said central channels of said at least two heat pipes, wherein at least one network of heat pipes of said device is attached to at least one thermally conductive facesheet of the wall, and the heat collected by said at least one network of heat pipes is drawn off to at least one cold source, by at least one of an extension from said network of heat pipes and at least one other network of heat pipes of said device and at least one fluid loop of said device.
Specification