Temperature actuated capillary valve for loop heat pipe system
AssigneeThe Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorTriem T. Hoang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A two-phase heat transfer system including at least one two-phase evaporator, at least one condenser, a vapor conduit joining a vapor outlet of the two-phase evaporator to an inlet of the condenser, a liquid conduit joining an outlet of the condenser to a liquid inlet of the two-phase evaporator, and a thermally-actuated capillary flow valve. The thermally-actuated capillary flow valve having a valve inlet, a valve outlet, a thermal connection to a heat sink for cold biasing the capillary flow valve, a porous wick extending across the flow passageway of the capillary flow valve, and a heater thermally connected to the capillary flow valve, where actuation of the heater evaporates liquid in the porous wick to allow passage of vapor through the capillary flow valve.
Claims14
A two-phase heat transfer system comprising:
- at least one two-phase evaporator;
- at least one condenser;
- a vapor conduit joining a vapor outlet of the two-phase evaporator to an inlet of the condenser;
- a liquid conduit joining an outlet of the condenser to a liquid inlet of the two-phase evaporator;
- and
- the thermally-actuated capillary flow valve having a valve inlet, a valve outlet, a thermal connection to a heat sink for cold biasing the capillary flow valve, a porous wick extending across the flow passageway of the capillary flow valve, and a heater thermally connected to the capillary flow valve, wherein actuation of the heater evaporates liquid in the porous wick, thereby allowing passage of vapor through the capillary flow valve.
A two-phase heat transfer system comprising:
- at least one two-phase evaporator;
- a plurality of condensers, each condenser having a first thermal connection to a cold sink;
- a vapor conduit joining a vapor outlet of the two-phase evaporator to inlets of the condensers;
- a liquid conduit joining outlets of the condensers to a liquid inlet of the two-phase evaporator;
- and
- a plurality of thermally-actuated capillary flow valves, each arranged in the vapor conduit at the inlet of each condenser,
- each thermally-actuated capillary flow valve having a valve inlet, a valve outlet, a second thermal connection to a heat sink for cold biasing the capillary flow valve, a porous wick extending across the flow passageway of the capillary flow valve, and a heater thermally connected to the capillary flow valve, wherein actuation of the heater evaporates liquid in the porous wick, thereby allowing passage of vapor through the capillary flow valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.