US 11,788,797 B2Granted

Heat transfer device for high heat flux applications and related methods thereof

AssigneeUniversity of Virginia Patent Foundation

InventorsHossein Haj-Hariri, Reza Monazami

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Abstract

A device and related method that provides, but is not limited thereto, a two-phase heat transfer device with unique combination of enhanced evaporation and increased cooling capacity. An advantage associated with the device and method includes, but is not limited thereto, increased cooling capacity per unit area, controlled and optimized evaporation, 10 prevention of boiling, and prevention of drying of the evaporator. An aspect associated with an approach may include, but is not limited thereto, using a non-wetting coating or structure to keep working fluid away from the spaces between elongated members of an evaporator and using a wetting coating or structure to form thin films of working fluid around the distal region of the elongated members.

Claims53

Dependent claims

A two phase heat transfer device, comprising:

a) an active heat source that generates heat;
b) a two-phase heat transfer system including an evaporator portion and a condenser portion, the evaporator portion including:
(1) a heat transfer member having a base member and elongated members extending distally from the base member, the base member having a first face coupled to the active heat source and a second face opposite the first face, the base member having a first dimension along a first lateral direction and a second dimension along a second lateral direction normal to the first direction, individual elongated members having a proximal region at the second face of the base member and a distal region with a distal end spaced distally apart from the proximal region, wherein the elongated members extend in the first lateral direction along an entirety of the first dimension of the base member, and wherein the elongated members define respective passages between adjacent elongated members, the passages extending along the entirety of the first dimension of the base member;
and
(2) a first reservoir having a base surface spaced distally apart from the distal ends of the elongated members, the first reservoir being configured to receive a working fluid such that (i) the distal ends of the elongated members are disposed within the working fluid, and (ii) a meniscus of the working fluid formed between adjacent elongated members is uninterrupted and continuous along a length of the adjacent elongated members;
the condenser portion including:
(1) a cooling source spaced apart from the active heat source;
and
(2) a second reservoir distal to at least a portion of the cooling source and configured to receive working fluid condensed via the cooling source, the second reservoir being separate from the first reservoir;
and
(c) wherein, during operation, a vapor space of the evaporator portion is in fluid communication with a vapor space of the condenser portion.

8 more elements

A heat transfer system, comprising:

a heat transfer member including—
a base member having a first face configured to be in thermal communication with a heat source, and a second face opposite the first face;
and
elongated members spaced apart from one another, and extending distally from the second face of the base member, such that adjacent elongated members and a portion of the second face form respective passages, the elongated members and passages extending laterally along an entirety of the second face;
a first reservoir having an interior surface spaced distally apart from distal ends of the elongated members, the first reservoir being configured to receive a working fluid, wherein, in operation—
the distal ends of the elongated members are dispersed within the working fluid, such that a meniscus of a liquid phase of the working fluid extends continuously between adjacent elongated members at the corresponding distal ends, and
vapor formed from the working fluid is in a vapor space defined at least by the respective passages between the second face and adjacent elongated members;
a cooling source spaced apart from the heat transfer member and configured to cause the vapor formed from the working fluid to condense;
and
a second reservoir having an interior surface spaced distally apart from the cooling source, the second reservoir being separate from the first reservoir and configured to receive the vapor condensed via the cooling source.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/415,423Filed 18 Jul 2013 · us provisional application
Priority: 18 Jul 2012
Published: US 2015/0198380 A116 Jul 2015
Granted: 17 Oct 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

F28D 15/04
In which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes: with tubes having a capillary structure
B64G 1/50
Arrangements or adaptations of devices for control of environment or living conditions: for temperature control
B64G 1/58
Protection, safety or emergency devices; Survival aids: thermal protection, e.g. heat shields
F01D 5/187
Hollow blades, i.e. blades with cooling or heating channels or cavities ; Heating, heat-insulating or cooling means on blades: convection cooling