Heat transfer system

• US 8,109,325 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Kroliczek, Edward J., Nikitkin, Michael, Wolf, David A. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): CIRIC, LJILJANA V
• Application Number:
  US12/650,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20100101762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 165/104.21, 165/104.26, 165/104.33, 165/272, 298/900.32, 298/900.7
• US Class Current: 165/104.21
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/043 forming loops, e.g. capillary pumped loops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49353 Heat pipe device making

Abstract

A thermodynamic system includes a cyclical heat exchange system and a heat transfer system coupled to the cyclical heat exchange system to cool a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system. The heat transfer system includes an evaporator including a wall configured to be coupled to a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system and a primary wick coupled to the wall and a condenser coupled to the evaporator to form a closed loop that houses a working fluid.

Claims

1. A heat transfer system for a cyclical heat exchange system, the heat transfer system comprising:

an evaporator comprising;

a heated wall configured to be coupled to a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system;

a primary wick coupled to the heated wall;

a liquid barrier wall, wherein the primary wick is positioned between the heated wall and the liquid barrier wall and wherein the heated wall and the liquid barrier wall are configured to contain a working fluid between adjacent sides of the heated wall and the liquid barrier wall;

a vapor removal channel located at an interface between the primary wick and the heated wall, the vapor removal channel extending to a vapor outlet;

a liquid flow channel located between the liquid barrier wall and the primary wick, the liquid flow channel receiving liquid from a liquid inlet;

a secondary wick between the liquid flow channel and the primary wick; and

a vapor vent channel at an interface between the secondary wick and the primary wick; and

a condenser coupled to the evaporator to form a closed loop that houses a working fluid.

2. The heat transfer system of claim 1, wherein the condenser comprises a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet and the evaporator comprises a liquid inlet and a vapor outlet.

3. The heat transfer system of claim 2, further comprising:

a vapor line providing fluid communication between the vapor outlet of the evaporator and the vapor inlet of the condenser; and

a liquid return line providing fluid communication between the liquid outlet of the condenser and the liquid inlet of the evaporator.

4. The heat transfer system of claim 3, wherein the heat transfer system is configured to change the working fluid between a liquid and a vapor as the working fluid passes through at least one of the evaporator, the condenser, the vapor line, and the liquid return line.

5. The heat transfer system of claim 3, further comprising an additional evaporator coupled to the vapor line.

6. The heat transfer system of claim 5, wherein the wick is configured to move the working fluid through the heat transfer system.

7. The heat transfer system of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer system is configured to move the working fluid through the heat transfer system passively.

8. The heat transfer system of claim 7, wherein the heat transfer system is configured to move the working fluid through the heat transfer system without the use of an external pump.

9. The heat transfer system of claim 1, further comprising fins coupled to the condenser.

10. The heat transfer system of claim 1, wherein the primary wick, the heated wall, and the liquid barrier wall of the evaporator are annular.

11. The heat transfer system of claim 1, further comprising a cryocooler thermally coupled to the condenser.

12. The heat transfer system of claim 1, wherein the primary wick, the heated wall, and the liquid barrier wall of the evaporator are planar.

13. A thermodynamic system comprising:

a cyclical heat exchange system; and

a heat transfer system coupled to the cyclical heat exchange system to cool a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system, the heat transfer system comprising;

an evaporator comprising;

a heated wall;

a primary wick coupled to the wall;

a liquid barrier wall, wherein the primary wick is positioned between the heated wall and the liquid barrier wall and wherein the heated wall and the liquid barrier wall are configured to contain a working fluid between adjacent sides of the heated wall and the liquid barrier wall;

a vapor removal channel located at an interface between the primary wick and the heated wall, the vapor removal channel extending to a vapor outlet;

a liquid flow channel located between the liquid barrier wall and the primary wick, the liquid flow channel receiving liquid from a liquid inlet;

a secondary wick between the liquid flow channel and the primary wick; and

a vapor vent channel at an interface between the secondary wick and the primary wick; and

a condenser coupled to the evaporator to form a closed loop that houses a working fluid.

14. The thermodynamic system of claim 13, wherein the evaporator is integral with the cyclical heat exchange system.

15. The thermodynamic system of claim 13, wherein the evaporator is thermally coupled to the portion of the cyclical heat exchange system.

16. The thermodynamic system of claim 13, wherein the cyclical heat exchange system includes a Stirling heat exchange system.

17. The thermodynamic system of claim 13, wherein the cyclical heat exchange system includes a refrigeration system.

18. The thermodynamic system of claim 13, wherein the heat transfer system is coupled to a hot side of the cyclical heat exchange system.

19. The thermodynamic system of claim 13, wherein the heat transfer system is coupled to a cold side of the cyclical heat exchange system.

20. A method of transferring heat for a cyclical heat exchange system, the method comprising:

vaporizing a liquid in an evaporator comprising;

inputting heat energy onto an exterior heat-absorbing surface of a vapor barrier wall;

flowing liquid through a liquid flow channel that is defined between a liquid barrier wall and a primary wick;

pumping the liquid from the liquid flow channel through the primary wick positioned between the liquid barrier wall and the vapor barrier wall;

removing vapor that has vaporized within the primary wick adjacent to the liquid barrier wall away from the primary wick through a vapor vent channel that is defined between the primary wick and a secondary wick located adjacent the liquid barrier wall; and

evaporating at least some of the liquid forming a vapor at a vapor removal channel that is defined at an interface between the primary wick and the vapor barrier wall;

delivering the vapor from the vapor removal channel to a condenser;

condensing the vapor in a condenser forming a liquid; and

delivering the liquid from the condenser to the evaporator.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising subcooling the liquid in the condenser.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising thermally coupling the condenser with a heat sink.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising thermally coupling the evaporator with a heat source, the heat source providing the heat energy onto the exterior heat-absorbing surface of the vapor barrier wall.