Nozzle cooled by heat pipe means

• US 4,516,631 A
• Filed: 12/23/1983
• Issued: 05/14/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Combustion Engineering Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Combustion Engineering Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Russell, Cornelius R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Jr., Albert W.
• Application Number:
  US06/564,662
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 165/47, 165/104.21, 165/104.26
• US Class Current: 165/47
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 1/00 Burners for combustion of pulverulent fuel disposition of burners F23C
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence

Abstract

A tubular member (40, 40'"'"') which has heat pipe cooling means (48, 48'"'"') cooperatively associated therewith and which is particularly suited for use in the manner of a nozzle for purposes of effecting the introduction of fuel, air, etc. into a substantially closed area 12 in which combustion takes place. The subject tubular member, i.e., nozzle, (40, 40'"'"') is suitably supported relative to the aforesaid combustion area (12) such that one end (30, 30'"'"') of the former (40, 40'"'"') communicates with the interior of the combustion area (12) and the other end (32, 32'"'"') thereof communicates with the exterior of the combustion area (12). Heat pipe means (48, 48'"'"') having an evaporator, i.e., hot, end and a condenser, i.e., cold, end is suitably supported in surrounding relation to the tubular member (40, 40'"'"') so as to be operative to effect a cooling of the latter (40, 40'"'"'). Within the heat pipe means (48, 48'"'"'), there is established a flow path along which a continuous flow of fluid occurs. In accord with this flow path, fluid in the form of a liquid flows through capillary action from the condenser end to the evaporator end of the heat pipe means (48, 48'"'"'). At the evaporator end of the heat pipe means (48, 48'"'"'), the liquid absorbs sufficient heat from the combustion area (12) that it vaporizes. As a vapor, the fluid then flows back from the evaporator end to the condenser end of the heat pipe means (48, 48'"'"'), where it is cooled and condenses. Thereafter, as a liquid the fluid once again commences its travel along the flow path provided therefor within the heat pipe means (48, 48'"'"').

Claims

1. In an apparatus embodying a combustion chamber, a nozzle assembly including a hollow member having one end thereof in fluid flow communication with the interior of the combustion chamber, the nozzle assembly being operative to effect the conveyance therethrough as well as the introduction therefrom into the combustion chamber of one of the substances that is required in order to support combustion within the combustion chamber, the improvement comprising heat pipe means operative to effect cooling of the hollow member, said heat pipe means including a member having an evaporator end and a condenser end, said member being mounted in concentric relation to the hollow member, said member including a first wall surface, a second wall surface and a divider wall surface, said first wall surface supported in abutting relation to the exterior of the hollow member, said first wall surface having a length less than the length of the hollow member, said second wall surface extending in parallel relation to said first wall surface and having a length less than the length of said first wall surface, said first wall surface being joined to said second wall surface at said evaporator end of said member, said divider wall surface being perforated for a portion of the length thereof and extending in parallel relation to both said first wall surface and said second wall surface, said divider wall surface having a length less than the length of said first wall surface, said divider wall surface being joined to said first wall sufface at said condenser end of said member and being joined to said second wall surface at a point intermediate the length of said divider wall surface, said divider wall surface being operative to divide said member into a first chamber located between said divider wall surface and said first wall surface and a second chamber located between said divider wall surface and said second wall surface, said heat pipe means further including wick-like material located within said second chamber and at said evaporator end of said member, said heat pipe means also including a reservoir, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, said reservoir being located externally of said member, said inlet pipe having one end thereof connected in fluid flow relation to said reservoir and the other end thereof connected in fluid flow relation to said first chamber at said condenser end of said member, said outlet pipe having one end thereof connected in fluid flow relation to said reservoir and the other end thereof connected in fluid flow relation to said second chamber adjacent the point of joinder of said second wall surface to said divider wall surface, said heat pipe means further including heat-dissipating means including a multiplicity of fin-like members mounted on the exterior of said divider wall surface intermediate said inlet pipe and said outlet pipe, said multiplicity of fin-like members being mounted so as to extend outwardly in a radial direction from said divider wall surface, said heat pipe means containing a supply of coolant fluid and having a fluid flow path established therewithin for said coolant fluid, said wick-like material being operative to cause said coolant fluid to flow as a liquid by capillary action through said second chamber along said fluid flow path from said condenser end to said evaporator end of said member, at said evaporator end said coolant fluid absorbing heat from the combustion chamber so as to become vaporized, as vapor said coolant fluid flowing through said first chamber along said fluid flow path from said evaporator end to said condenser end of said member, at said condenser end said coolant fluid being cooled so as to condense, at said condenser end said coolant fluid flowing from said first chamber through said inlet pipe to said reservoir and through said reservoir to said outlet pipe and from said outlet pipe into said second chamber, said coolant fluid being continuously circulated through said second chamber and said first chamber so as to thereby effect a cooling of the hollow member that is surrounded by said heat pipe means.

2. In an apparatus, the heat pipe means as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least some of the materials employed in the construction of said heat pipe means are hydrophilic relative to said coolant fluid.

3. In an apparatus, the heat pipe means as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least some of the materials employed in the construction of said heat pipe means are hydrophobic relative to said coolant fluid.