Variable-conductance heat transfer device
First Claim
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1. A heat transfer device for conducting heat from a heat source, the heat transfer device having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
- an evaporator for generating a vapor, the evaporator defined by at least one wall;
a condenser in fluid communication with the evaporator, the condenser defined by at least one wall, wherein the walls that define the evaporator and the condenser together define an interior space; and
a vapor flow restrictor interposed between the evaporator and the condenser,wherein the vapor flow restrictor has opposed planar surfaces each orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the heat transfer device and an orifice of constant cross section extending between the opposed planar surfaces, wherein the orifice defines a vapor flow path between the evaporator and condenser, wherein the vapor flow path is unobstructed through the orifice at all operating temperatures,wherein the vapor flow restrictor increases vapor pressure in at least a portion of the evaporator relative to vapor pressure in the condenser,wherein the vapor flow restrictor is configured to decrease the vapor flow rate from the evaporator to the condenser as the evaporator temperature decreases,wherein vapor passes from the evaporator toward the condenser through the vapor flow restrictor, andwherein condensed working fluid passes in the interior space from the condenser back toward the evaporator past the vapor flow restrictor.
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Abstract
A heat transfer device is provided for conducting heat from a heat source. The heat transfer device generally includes an evaporator for generating a vapor, a condenser in fluid communication with the evaporator, and a vapor flow restrictor interposed between the evaporator and the condenser, wherein the vapor flow restrictor can increase vapor pressure in at least a portion of the evaporator relative to vapor pressure in the condenser.
25 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A heat transfer device for conducting heat from a heat source, the heat transfer device having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
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an evaporator for generating a vapor, the evaporator defined by at least one wall; a condenser in fluid communication with the evaporator, the condenser defined by at least one wall, wherein the walls that define the evaporator and the condenser together define an interior space; and a vapor flow restrictor interposed between the evaporator and the condenser, wherein the vapor flow restrictor has opposed planar surfaces each orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the heat transfer device and an orifice of constant cross section extending between the opposed planar surfaces, wherein the orifice defines a vapor flow path between the evaporator and condenser, wherein the vapor flow path is unobstructed through the orifice at all operating temperatures, wherein the vapor flow restrictor increases vapor pressure in at least a portion of the evaporator relative to vapor pressure in the condenser, wherein the vapor flow restrictor is configured to decrease the vapor flow rate from the evaporator to the condenser as the evaporator temperature decreases, wherein vapor passes from the evaporator toward the condenser through the vapor flow restrictor, and wherein condensed working fluid passes in the interior space from the condenser back toward the evaporator past the vapor flow restrictor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A heat transfer device for conducting heat from a heat source, the heat transfer device comprising:
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an evaporator for generating a vapor, the evaporator defined by at least one wall; a condenser in fluid communication with the evaporator, the condenser defined by at least one wall, wherein the walls that define the evaporator and the condenser together define an interior space; and a vapor flow restrictor interposed between the evaporator and the condenser, wherein the vapor flow restrictor is positioned adjacent the evaporator, wherein the vapor flow restrictor has opposed planar surfaces with an orifice extending between the opposed planar surfaces, the orifice having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet and the outlet being each disposed in one of the opposed planar surfaces, respectively, and having cross-sectional areas of equal size, wherein the orifice defines a vapor flow path between the evaporator and condenser, wherein the vapor flow path is unobstructed through the orifice at all operating temperatures, wherein the vapor flow restrictor is configured to vary the vapor flow rate from the evaporator to the condenser and thereby maintain the temperature of the heat source within a predetermined range, wherein vapor passes from the evaporator toward the condenser through the vapor flow restrictor, and wherein condensed working fluid passes in the interior space from the condenser back toward the evaporator past the vapor flow restrictor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A heat transfer device for conducting heat from a heat source, the heat transfer device comprising:
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an evaporator defined by at least one wall; a condenser in fluid communication with the evaporator, the condenser defined by at least one wall, wherein the walls that define the evaporator and the condenser together define an interior space; a wick disposed on at least a portion of an interior surface of one of the walls, the wick having a working fluid in contact therewith in a liquid form; and a vapor flow restrictor interposed between the evaporator and the condenser, the vapor flow restrictor having an orifice that defines a vapor flow path between the evaporator and condenser, wherein the vapor flow path is unobstructed through the orifice at all operating temperatures, wherein the vapor flow restrictor is positioned adjacent the evaporator, wherein the entire vapor flow restrictor is fixed in position to prevent movement of any portion of the vapor flow restrictor relative to the walls wherein the vapor flow restrictor is configured to vary the vapor flow rate from the evaporator to the condenser and thereby decrease the amount of power transmitted from the evaporator to the condenser as the temperature of the evaporator decreases, wherein vapor passes from the evaporator toward the condenser through the vapor flow restrictor, and wherein condensed working fluid passes in the interior space from the condenser back toward the evaporator past the vapor flow restrictor. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A heat transfer device for conducting heat from a heat source, the heat transfer device comprising:
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an evaporator for generating a vapor; a condenser in fluid communication with the evaporator; and a vapor flow restrictor interposed between the evaporator and the condenser, wherein the vapor flow restrictor is positioned adjacent the evaporator and has opposed surfaces that are parallel to one another with an unrestricted opening of constant cross section extending between the opposed surfaces, the opening having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet and the outlet being each disposed in one of the opposed outer surfaces, respectively, and having cross-sectional areas of equal size, and wherein as the temperature of the evaporator varies, the vapor flow restrictor is configured to vary the vapor flow rate from the evaporator to the condenser through an orifice the defines a vapor flow path between the evaporator and condenser, wherein the vapor flow path is unobstructed through the orifice at all operating temperatures and thereby vary the temperature differential between the evaporator and condenser to maintain the heat source toward a constant temperature, wherein vapor passes from the evaporator toward the condenser through the vapor flow restrictor, and wherein condensed working fluid flows back toward the evaporator in an area defined between a periphery of the vapor flow restrictor and an interior wall of the heat transfer device. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of conducting heat from a heat source, the method comprising:
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providing a heat transfer device including an evaporator for generating a vapor, and a condenser in fluid communication with the evaporator; providing a wick on at least a portion of an interior surface of the heat transfer device; interposing a vapor flow restrictor between the evaporator and the condenser, wherein the vapor flow restrictor is positioned adjacent the evaporator and is formed entirely of the wick; and decreasing the amount of power transmitted from the evaporator to the condenser as the temperature of the evaporator decreases to vary the temperature differential between the evaporator and condenser and thereby maintain the heat source within a predetermined operating range.
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48. A heat transfer device for conducting heat from a heat source, the heat transfer device comprising:
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an evaporator; a condenser in fluid communication with the evaporator, at least one of the evaporator and condenser at least partially defining a wall of an interior space of the heat transfer device; a wick disposed on at least a portion of an interior surface of the wall, the wick having a working fluid in contact therewith in a liquid form; and a vapor flow restrictor interposed between the evaporator and the condenser, wherein the vapor flow restrictor is positioned adjacent the evaporator, wherein the entire vapor flow restrictor has an orifice that defines a vapor flow path between the evaporator and condenser, wherein the vapor flow path is unobstructed through the orifice at all operating temperatures, wherein the vapor flow restrictor is configures to vary the vapor flow rate from the evaporator to the condenser and thereby decrease the amount of power transmitted from the evaporator to the condenser as the temperature of the evaporator decreases, wherein vapor passes from the evaporator toward the condenser through the vapor flow restrictor, and wherein condensed working fluid flows back toward the evaporator in an area between a periphery of the vapor flow restrictor and a portion of the wall. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification