Method using heat pipes with multiple evaporator/condenser zones and heat exchangers using same

A method of heat exchange comprising the steps of:

• using a length of a heat pipe to transfer heat between a first heat transfer fluid and a second heat transfer fluid, said heat pipe being straight from a first end to a second end thereof, said heat pipe having an inside wall coated with a wick extending continuously over a whole length of said heat pipe, said wick having working fluid contained thereby within said wick, and said heat pipe having a diameter within the range of about ⅛ inch to about 2 inches to allow an extension of said heat pipe for adding alternating evaporator and condensing zones forming and separating adjacent evaporator/condenser zones within said heat pipe by providing more than one baffle extending radially from an outside surface of said heat tube;
• forming and separating adjacent evaporator and condenser regions within each said evaporator/condenser zone by providing a respective baffle of said more than one baffles extending radially from said outside surface of said heat tube to a four sided housing;
• separating said first and second heat transfer fluids between adjacent said evaporator and condenser regions exterior to said heat pipe defined by said more than one baffles and said four sided housing;
• delivering said first heat transfer fluid by an external heating source to said evaporator regions and out of communication with said condenser regions by the use of said more than one baffles;
• delivering said second heat transfer fluid by an external cooling source to said condenser regions and out of communication with said evaporator regions by the use of said more than one baffles;
• said adjacent evaporator/condenser zones being in open communication with each other internally within said heat pipe;
• and
• wherein each evaporator region accepts input heat from said first heat transfer fluid to cause evaporation of the working fluid in each adjacent condenser region within said evaporator/condenser zone to transfer heat to said second heat transfer fluid using said heat pipe to produce vapor and moving said vapor to either side of said heat pipe by local pressure differences to condense in one or two adjacent condenser zones, where said vapor is absorbed as a liquid and flows back to one or two adjacent evaporator zones of said heat pipe;
• each said evaporator zone creating at least one fluid loop whereby evaporated working fluid splits up left and right, condensing in adjacent condenser zones and said working fluid flows back to the respective evaporator zone as a liquid within said evaporator zone;
• and
• said heat pipe adjacent said condenser zones thereby operating internally with multiple said adjacent evaporator/condenser zones as induced by respective external air flows.

A heat pipe heat exchanger comprising:

• a length of a first heat pipe;
• a housing having opposing side panels and opposing end panels creating a chamber therein, and a plurality of spaced baffles spaced along said chamber between said end panels in a direction transverse to said length of said first heat pipe creating a plurality of separate alternating hot and cold regions exterior to and along said length of said first heat pipe extending in said direction between said opposing end panels;
• a wick lining an interior wall of said first heat pipe;
• working fluid contained within said wick;
• said plurality of spaced baffles on an outside of said first heat pipe in which cold air is delivered to said cold regions by an external cooling source and hot air is delivered to said hot regions by an external heating source and heat is withdrawn from said first heat pipe in said cold regions by condensation of the working fluid, while heat is added to said first heat pipe in said hot regions by evaporation of the working fluid, causing circulation of said working fluid within said first heat pipe;
• said circulation consisting of working fluid in said wick being vaporized in said hot regions absorbing heat from said circulating heated fluid thereby cooling said circulating heated fluid, said vaporized working fluid circulating into and through said adjacent cold regions, said working fluid being condensed and absorbed into said wick within said cold regions giving up heat to said circulating cooler circulating fluid thereby transferring heat from said hot regions to said cold regions, said vaporized working fluid spreading out to adjacent cold regions on both sides of each hot region;
• each pair of hot and cold regions comprising an internal zone, each zone being in open fluid communication with each of adjacent said zones within said first heat pipe;
• and
• wherein said adjacent cold and hot regions being in closed fluid communication with each other externally outside said first heat pipe within said chamber by said plurality of spaced baffles.