Heat transfer controlling mechanism and fuel cell system having the heat transfer controlling mechanism

• US 8,020,613 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakakubo, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): FORD, JOHN K
• Application Number:
  US12/161,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20100221627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 165/272, 165/274, 165/104.26, 165/300, 236/34, 236/34.5, 429/434, 429/435, 429/436, 429/437, 429/438, 429/120
• US Class Current: 165/272
• 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 15/043 forming loops, e.g. capillary pumped loops
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/06 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2245/02 hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2245/04 hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04074 Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A heat transfer controlling mechanism and a fuel cell system, which allow working fluid to flow in a predetermined direction in a loop-shaped flow path without a back flow, having a simple structure independent of the orientation during use, low power consumption, and efficient heat transfer and size reduction. The mechanism includes a vaporizing portion, a condensing portion, and a loop-shaped flow path connecting the vaporizing and the condensing portions so as to seal working fluid. The mechanism transports heat by vaporizing the fluid in the vaporizing portion and condensing the fluid in the condensing portion to control heat transfer. The mechanism further includes a gas passage suppressing portion on one side in the flow path, for allowing liquid, but not gas, to pass therethrough and a liquid passage suppressing portion on the other side in the flow path, for allowing gas, but not liquid, to pass therethrough.

Claims

1. A heat transfer controlling mechanism comprising:

a vaporizing portion;

a condensing portion;

a loop-shaped flow path connecting the vaporizing portion and the condensing portion such that a working fluid is sealed therein;

a gas passage suppressing portion provided on one side in the loop-shaped flow path, for allowing a liquid to pass therethrough and suppressing passage of a gas; and

a liquid passage suppressing portion provided on another side in the loop-shaped flow path, for allowing a gas to pass therethrough and suppressing passage of a liquid,

wherein the heat transfer controlling mechanism performs a heat transport by an action of vaporization of the working fluid in the vaporizing portion and by an action of condensation of the working fluid in the condensing portion to thereby control transfer of heat, and

wherein at least one of the gas passage suppressing portion and the liquid passage suppressing portion comprises a wettability changing portion comprising a material whose contact angle is changed at a predetermined temperature.

2. The heat transfer controlling mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the wettability changing portion comprises a material whose property changes from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity at a predetermined temperature or more.