Freeze-tolerant condenser for a closed-loop heat-transfer system
First Claim
1. A heat-transfer system utilizing a working fluid, comprising:
- a condenser, said condenser including;
a. an enclosure having an inner surface and a length, said enclosure containing a first interior space and a second interior space, said enclosure for containing the working fluid; and
b. a partition located within and extending along at least a portion of said length of said enclosure and separating said first interior space from said second interior space, said partition having a pluralities of capillaries formed therein, each capillary having a sidewall including a surface having formations thereon formed by the melting, and subsequent re-solidification of said sidewall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A freeze tolerant condenser (106) for a two-phase heat transfer system is disclosed. The condenser includes an enclosure (110) and a porous artery (112) located within and extending along the length of the enclosure. A vapor space (116) is defined between the enclosure and the artery, and a liquid space (114) is defined by a central passageway within the artery. The artery includes a plurality of laser-micromachined capillaries (130) extending from the outer surface of the artery to its inner surface such that the vapor space is in fluid communication with the liquid space. In one embodiment of the invention, the capillaries (130) are cylindrical holes having a diameter of no greater than 50 microns. In another embodiment, the capillaries (130′) are slots having widths of no greater than 50 microns. A method of making an artery in accordance with the present invention is also disclosed. The method includes providing a solid-walled tube and laser-micromachining a plurality of capillaries into the tube along a longitudinal axis, wherein each capillary has at least one cross-sectional dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis of less than 50 microns.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A heat-transfer system utilizing a working fluid, comprising:
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a condenser, said condenser including;
a. an enclosure having an inner surface and a length, said enclosure containing a first interior space and a second interior space, said enclosure for containing the working fluid; and
b. a partition located within and extending along at least a portion of said length of said enclosure and separating said first interior space from said second interior space, said partition having a pluralities of capillaries formed therein, each capillary having a sidewall including a surface having formations thereon formed by the melting, and subsequent re-solidification of said sidewall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
a. a heat sink;
b. a plurality of said condensers, each of said condensers attached to and in thermal communication with said heat sink;
c. an evaporator, said evaporator having an inlet and an outlet;
d. a first header, said first header in fluid communication with said evaporator and with said first interior space of each of said condensers; and
e. a second header, said second header in fluid communication with said evaporator and with said second interior space of each of said condensers.
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18. A heat-transfer system according to claim 17, wherein said heat sink comprises a radiator panel.
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19. A heat-transfer system according to claim 17, further comprising a heater attached to at least one of said condensers.
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20. A heat-transfer system according to claim 1, each of said plurality of capillaries:
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a. extending between said first interior space and said second interior space along a longitudinal axis such that said first interior space and second interior space are in fluid communication with one another;
b. being substantially linear and having a substantially uniform cross-section shape transverse to said longitudinal axis; and
c. having at least one cross-sectional dimension transverse to said longitudinal axis no greater than 50 microns.
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21. A heat-transfer system utilizing a working fluid, comprising:
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a condenser assembly, said condenser assembly including;
a. a plurality of condensers, each condenser having;
i. an enclosure having an inner surface and a length, said enclosure containing a first interior space and a second interior space, said enclosure for containing the working fluid; and
ii. a partition located within and extending along at least a portion of said length of said enclosure and separating said first interior space from said second interior space, said partition having a plurality of capillaries formed therein, each of said capillaries having a sidewall including a surface having formations thereon formed by the melting, and subsequent re-solidification of said sidewall b. a heat sink, said heat sink in thermal communication with said enclosure of each of said condensers;
c. a first header, said first header in fluid communication with said first interior space of each of said condensers; and
d. a second header, said second header in fluid communication with said second interior space of each of said condensers. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
a. extending between said first interior space and said second interior space along a longitudinal axis such that said first interior space and second interior space are in fluid communication with one another;
b. being substantially linear and having a substantially uniform cross-section shape transverse to said longitudinal axis; and
c. having at least one cross-sectional dimension transverse to said longitudinal axis no greater than 50 microns.
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29. An artery for a heat-transfer device, comprising:
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a side wall, said side wall having an outer surface, an inner surface and a plurality of capillaries formed therein, each capillary;
a. extending from said outer surface to said inner surface along a longitudinal axis, b. having a side wall including a surface having formations thereon formed by the melting and subsequent re-solidification of said side wall of said capillary, c. being linear and having a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape transverse to said longitudinal axis, and d. having at least one dimension transverse to said longitudinal axis that is no greater than 50 microns. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification