HEAT PIPE WITH PRINTED HEATER AND ASSOCIATED METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING

• US 20170290096A1
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Published: 10/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Duce, Jeffrey L., Courter, Christopher D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,368,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/50 for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/506 Heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/321 with at least one metal alloy layer
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/34 including at least one inorganic non-metallic material layer, e.g. metal carbide, nitride, boride, silicide layer and their mixtures, enamels, phosphates and sulphates
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/07 Heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/02 in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0021 for aircrafts or cosmonautics air-treatment for aircraft B64D13/00, temperature control of cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/50
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0035 for domestic or space heating, e.g. heating radiators for vehicles F28D2021/0096
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/005 using multiple resistive elements or resistive zones isolated from each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/022 Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0014 Devices wherein the heating current flows through particular resistances
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/12 characterised by the composition or nature of the conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/16 the conductor being mounted on an insulating base
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/46 heating conductor mounted on insulating base

Abstract

Described herein is a heater for space equipment that includes a heat pipe. The heater also includes a first layer applied to the heat pipe. The first layer may be made from an electrically non-conductive material. The heater additionally includes a resistance heater printed onto the first layer after the first layer is applied to the heat pipe. The heater includes a second layer adjacent the resistance heater. The resistance heater may be positioned between the first layer and the second layer, and the second layer may be made from an electrically non-conductive material.

Claims

1. A heater for space equipment, comprising:

a heat pipe;

a first layer applied to the heat pipe, the first layer made from an electrically non-conductive material;

a resistance heater printed onto the first layer after the first layer is applied to the heat pipe; and

a second layer adjacent the resistance heater, the resistance heater being positioned between the first layer and the second layer, and the second layer being made from an electrically non-conductive material.

2. The heater of claim 1, wherein the resistance heater comprises a first conductor printed onto the first layer and a second conductor printed onto the first conductor, the first conductor being made from a first metal and the second conductor being made from a second metal different than the first metal.

3. The heater of claim 2, wherein the first metal comprises copper and the second metal comprises nichrome.

4. The heater of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer comprises a printed ceramic layer.

5. The heater of claim 1, further comprising an electrostatic dissipation layer applied over the second layer.

6. The heater of claim 1, wherein the heater comprises a plurality of plies, and wherein the first layer comprises a first ply of the plurality of plies, the resistance heater comprises at least a second ply of the plurality of plies, and the second layer comprises a third ply of the plurality of plies.

7. The heater of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first ply and third ply comprises a ceramic ply.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

a heat pipe comprising a plurality of plies printed thereon, wherein the plurality of plies comprises a first ply made from an electrically non-conductive material, a second ply applied onto the first ply and made from a first electrically conductive metal, and a third ply applied onto the second ply and made from a second electrically conductive metal;

at least two electrically conductive contacts coupled to the second ply; and

an electrical power source coupled to the at least two electrically conductive contacts, the electrical power source supplying power to the second ply via the at least two electrically conductive contacts.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the electrical power source supplies a constant voltage to the second ply at or above an equilibrium voltage corresponding to an equilibrium temperature of the third ply.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the plurality of plies has a planar shape.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the plurality of plies comprises a fourth ply applied onto the third ply and made from an electrically non-conductive material, the first ply and fourth ply sandwiching the second ply and third ply.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of plies comprises a ceramic ply.

13. A method of making a heater for heating equipment in space, comprising:

providing a heat pipe, wherein the heat pipe is configured to contain a fluid that flows through the heat pipe to facilitate heat transfer;

applying a first electrically non-conductive layer onto the heat pipe;

printing a resistance heater onto the first electrically non-conductive layer after applying the first electrically non-conductive layer onto the heat pipe; and

applying a second electrically non-conductive layer onto the resistance heater to form the heater.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein printing the resistance heater onto the first electrically non-conductive layer comprises:

printing an electrically conductive layer onto the first electrically non-conductive layer using a first conductive material; and

printing a heater layer onto the electrically conductive layer using a second conductive material.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein applying the first electrically non-conductive layer onto the heat pipe comprises printing the first electrically non-conductive layer onto the heat pipe.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein applying the second electrically non-conductive layer onto the resistance heater comprises printing the second electrically non-conductive layer onto the resistance heater.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first electrically non-conductive layer comprises a ceramic.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising printing a thermocouple onto the first electrically non-conductive layer.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising applying an overcoat over the second electrically non-conductive layer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the overcoat is a conductive electrostatic dissipation layer.