Variable thermal conductance reflux heat pipe
First Claim
1. Thermal transfer apparatus comprising reflux heat pipe means,said heat pipe means including:
- an evaporator section,slab wicks of various depths disposed in said evaporator section for contacting a liquid puddle in said evaporator section of said pipe means,an adiabatic center section and an upper condenser section,said adiabatic center section having a deformable zone,closure means sealing said pipe means at each end,a vaporizable liquid in said apparatus, said liquid being in equilibrium with a vapor phase thereof, andmechanical means for deforming said deformable adiabatic section to provide an inflection in said central section of said pipe means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal energy transfer device having controllably variable thermal conductance comprises a reflux heat pipe having a capillary wick therein, an evaporator and a condenser zone, a circulating supply of working fluid which is controlled by a bendable section in the heat pipe body and an external device to control the bend in the heat pipe body, thereby controlling the amount of liquid returning to the evaporator. As returning liquid condensate is trapped in the center of the deformed tube, less liquid is available for evaporation in the evaporator. This results in a low liquid level that saturates only a portion of the evaporator wick. This results in higher thermal impedance. If the heat pipe body is deformed so that all liquid is trapped in the deformed portion, no liquid is available in the evaporator and there is a high thermal impedance.
28 Citations
4 Claims
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1. Thermal transfer apparatus comprising reflux heat pipe means,
said heat pipe means including: -
an evaporator section, slab wicks of various depths disposed in said evaporator section for contacting a liquid puddle in said evaporator section of said pipe means, an adiabatic center section and an upper condenser section, said adiabatic center section having a deformable zone, closure means sealing said pipe means at each end, a vaporizable liquid in said apparatus, said liquid being in equilibrium with a vapor phase thereof, and mechanical means for deforming said deformable adiabatic section to provide an inflection in said central section of said pipe means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification