Heat pipe loop with pump assistance

• US 20030136555A1
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heat Pipe Technology, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Khanh Dinh
• Inventors: Dinh, Khanh
• Granted Patent: US 6,745,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/274
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/06 Control arrangements therefor

Abstract

A heat pipe loop includes a first heat pipe section having a first temperature and a second heat pipe section having a second temperature higher than the first temperature. The first heat pipe section is a condenser and the second heat pipe section is an evaporator. A vapor line connects an upper portion of the first heat pipe section with an upper portion of the second heat pipe section. A liquid line connects a lower portion of the first heat pipe section with a lower portion of the second heat pipe section. In one embodiment, the first heat pipe section is disposed at a first elevation and the second heat pipe section is disposed at a second elevation higher than the first elevation. A pump directs liquid from the first heat pipe section to the second heat pipe section through the liquid line.

Claims

1. A heat pipe loop comprising:

a first heat pipe section having a first temperature;

a second heat pipe section having a second temperature higher than the first temperature;

a vapor line connecting an upper portion of the first heat pipe section with an upper portion of the second heat pipe section;

a liquid line connecting a lower portion of the first heat pipe section with a lower portion of the second heat pipe section; and

a pump which pumps liquid from the first heat pipe section to the second heat pipe section through the liquid line.

2. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 in which the first heat pipe section is a condenser and the second heat pipe section is an evaporator.

3. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 in which the first heat pipe section is disposed at a first elevation and the second heat pipe section is disposed at a second elevation higher than the first elevation.

4. The heat pipe loop- of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of tubes of the first heat pipe section; and

a second plurality of tubes of the second heat pipe section, in which the pump raises a liquid level in the second plurality of tubes to flood the second heat pipe section.

5. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of tubes of the first heat pipe section;

a second plurality of tubes of the second heat pipe section; and

a liquid distributor intermediate the pump and the second heat pipe section which sprays the liquid to wet an inside surface of each of the second plurality of tubes.

6. The heat pipe loop of claim 5 in which the liquid distributor sprays the liquid from an upper portion of the second plurality of tubes.

7. The heat pipe loop of claim 6 further comprising:

a liquid return line intermediate a lower portion of the second plurality of tubes and an inlet of the pump.

8. The heat pipe loop of claim 6 in which the liquid distributor comprises a perforated pipe disposed coaxially within the vapor line.

9. The heat pipe loop of claim 5 in which the liquid distributor sprays the liquid from a lower portion of the second plurality of tubes.

10. The heat pipe loop of claim 9 in which the liquid distributor comprises a perforated pipe disposed coaxially within the liquid line.

11. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of tubes of the first heat pipe section, the first plurality of tubes being disposed substantially vertically; and

a second plurality of tubes of the second heat pipe section, the second plurality of tubes being disposed substantially vertically.

12. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of tubes of the first heat pipe section, the first plurality of tubes being disposed substantially horizontally; and

a second plurality of tubes of the second heat pipe section, the second plurality of tubes being disposed substantially horizontally.

13. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 in which the second temperature is less than about 5°

F. higher than the first temperature.

14. The heat pipe-loop of claim 1 further comprising:

a serpentine tube in the first heat pipe section; and

a serpentine tube in the second heat pipe section.

15. A heat pipe loop comprising:

a first heat pipe section;

a second heat pipe section;

a vapor line connecting an upper portion of the first heat pipe section with an upper portion of the second heat pipe section;

a liquid line connecting a lower portion of the first heat pipe section with a lower portion of the second heat pipe section; and

a first pump which pumps liquid from one heat pipe section to the other heat pipe section through the liquid line.

16. The heat pipe loop of claim 15 in which the liquid line further comprises:

a first feed line through which the pump pumps liquid from the first heat pipe section to the second heat pipe section;

a second feed line through which the pump pumps liquid from the second heat pipe section to the first heat pipe section; and

a valve system which allows pumping through only one of either the first or second feed lines at a time.

17. The heat pipe loop of claim 15 further comprising:

a second pump, wherein the first pump pumps liquid from the first heat pipe section to the second heat pipe section and the second pump pumps liquid from the second heat pipe section to the first heat pipe section.

18. The heat pipe loop of claim 17 in which the first pump and the second pump each allow free back flow when not operating.

19. The heat pipe loop of claim 15 in which the liquid line further comprises:

a first feed line through which the first pump pumps liquid from the first heat pipe section to the second heat pipe section;

a second feed line through which a second pump pumps liquid from the second heat pipe section to the first heat pipe section; and

a valve system which allows pumping through only one of either the first or second feed lines at a time.

20. A heat pipe loop comprising:

a first heat pipe section having a first temperature;

a second heat pipe section having a second temperature higher than the first temperature;

a vapor line connecting an upper portion of the first heat pipe section with an upper portion of the second heat pipe section;

a liquid line connecting a lower portion of the first heat pipe section with a lower portion of the second heat pipe section; and

a means for pumping liquid from the first heat pipe section to the second heat pipe section through the liquid line.