UNILATERAL HEAT TRANSFER APPARATUS

• US 3,754,594 A
• Filed: 01/24/1972
• Issued: 08/28/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James K. Ferrell
• Original Assignee: James K. Ferrell
• Inventors: Ferrell, James K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Jr., Albert W.
• Application Number:
  US05/220,216
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 165/32,105
• US Class Current: 165/272
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/046 characterised by the material or the construction of the capillary structure

Abstract

Unilateral heat transfer apparatus comprises an evacuated heat transfer chamber having a variable pore size capillary structure therein with the pore size of the capillary structure in the evaporator portion of the heat transfer device being smaller than the pore size of the capillary structure in the condenser portion thereof. Further, the working fluid within the heat transfer device is limited to that amount which will saturate the capillary structure in the evaporator section only.

Claims

1. Unilateral hea4 transfer apparatus, comprising:

a closed evaporative heat transfer chamber having an evaporator portion and a condenser portion;

a variable pore size capillary structure disposed on the interior surfaces of said chamber, said capillary structure defining larger capillary pores in the condenser portion than in the evaporator portion; and

a volatile working fluid disposed within said chamber, the amount of said working fluid being limited to that necessary to saturate the capillary structure in the evaporator portion only.

2. Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said capillary comprises first and second wicks coupled to one another to provide a continuous condensate flow path.

3. Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 2, said first and second wicks disposed in the evaporator and condenser portions of said chamber, respectively, with said first wick being thicker than said second wick in order to provide a working fluid storage volume.

4. Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said second wick comprises a single layer oF wire screen.

5. Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said first wick comprises a felted metal.

6. Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said first wick comprises a sintered metal.

7. Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 1, said closed evapOrative heat transfer chamber further including an adiabatic portion.

8. Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 7, the amount of said working fluid being limited to that necessary to saturate the capillary structure in the evaporator and adiabatic portions only.

9. Unilateral heat transfer apparatus, comprising:

a closed evaporative heat transfer chamber having an evaporator portion, a condenser portion and an adiabatic portion;

a variable pore size capillary structure diSposed on the interior surfaces of said chamber, said capillary structure defining larger cai lary pores in the condenser portion than in the evaporator portion, said capillary structure having a greater volume in said evaporator portion than in said condenser portion; and

a volatile working fluid disposed within said chamber, the amount of said working fluid being substantiFlly that necessary to saturate said thicker portion of said capillary structure.