Passive liquid collecting device
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorWei-Lin Cho
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A passive liquid collecting device includes a reservoir including a reservoir exit line and at least one rigid structure disposed within the reservoir configured to collect a liquid and direct the liquid to the reservoir exit line. A first porous capillary media is supported by the at least one rigid structure and a vapor-liquid separator in contact with at least one of the at least one rigid structure and the first porous capillary media. The vapor-liquid separator includes a guide member extending along a guide member axis having a guide inlet and a guide outlet connected by a spiral conduit. A second porous capillary media is located radially outward from the spiral conduit on an exterior surface of the guide member. A thermal control loop is also disclosed.
Claims20
A passive liquid collecting device comprising:
- a reservoir including a reservoir exit line;
- at least one rigid structure disposed within the reservoir and configured to collect a liquid and direct the liquid to the reservoir exit line;
- a first porous capillary media supported by the at least one rigid structure;
- and
- a vapor-liquid separator in contact with at least one of the at least one rigid structure and the first porous capillary media including:
- a guide member extending along a guide member axis having a guide inlet and a guide outlet connected by a spiral conduit;
- and
- a second porous capillary media located radially outward from the spiral conduit on an exterior surface of the guide member.
A thermal control loop, comprising:
- a pump for pumping a liquid refrigerant;
- an evaporator for removing heat from a heat source and transferring heat to the liquid refrigerant;
- a condenser for removing heat from the liquid refrigerant;
- and
- an accumulator comprising:
- a reservoir including a reservoir exit line;
- at least one rigid structure disposed within the reservoir and configured to collect a liquid and direct the liquid to the reservoir exit line;
- a first porous capillary media supported by the at least one rigid structure;
- and
- a vapor-liquid separator in contact with at least one of the at least one rigid structure and the first porous capillary media including:
- a guide member extending along a guide member axis having a guide inlet and a guide outlet connected by a spiral conduit;
- and
- a second porous capillary media located radially outward from the spiral conduit on an exterior surface of the guide member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.