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US 12,429,288 B2Granted
Architecture and operational modes of pump-augmented loop heat pipe with multiple evaporators
AssigneeThe Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsDmitry Khrustalev, Timothy Holman, Robert Baldauff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pump-augmented Loop Heat Pipe (LHP) includes a conventional LHP evaporator/reservoir assembly; one or more additional evaporators; a condenser; a condenser bypass; and a pump upstream of the condenser and condenser bypass and configured to pump fluid generally toward the one or more additional evaporators.
Claims13
A pump-augmented Loop Heat Pipe (LHP), comprising:
- a first evaporator constructed to receive external heat and evaporate a working fluid;
- a reservoir integrated with the first evaporator;
- a vapor transport line connected to the first evaporator;
- a condenser connected to the vapor transport line;
- a liquid return line connected to the condenser and the reservoir;
- a fluid transport line connected to the liquid return line and the vapor transport line;
- a pump;
- a plurality of evaporators situated along the fluid transport line;
- and
- a check valve situated along the fluid transport line and arranged to supply a liquid received from the pump directly to the plurality of evaporators situated along the fluid transport line,
- wherein the pump-augmented LHP is constructed to operate in:
- a first mode where the check valve is closed and the pump off such that:
- (i) evaporated working fluid, evaporated by the first evaporator, is received by the vapor transport line and provided to the condenser,
- (ii) the condenser condenses the evaporated working fluid, evaporated by the first evaporator, into a liquid working fluid and provides the liquid working fluid to the liquid return line, and
- (iii) the liquid working fluid provided to the liquid return line is supplied to the reservoir, and
- a second mode where the check valve is open and the pump is on such that:
- (i) the evaporated working fluid, evaporated by the first evaporator, is received by the vapor transport line and provided to the condenser,
- (ii) evaporated working fluid, evaporated by the plurality of evaporators situated along the fluid transport line, is also received by the vapor transport line and provided to the condenser,
- (iii) the condenser condenses the evaporated working fluid evaporated by the first evaporator and the evaporated working fluid evaporated by the plurality of evaporators situated along the fluid transport line into a liquid working fluid and provides the liquid working fluid to the liquid return line and fluid transport line,
- (iv) the liquid working fluid provided to the liquid return line is supplied to the reservoir, and
- (v) the liquid working fluid provided to the fluid transport line is pumped by the pump through the check valve and directly to the plurality of evaporators situated along the fluid transport line.
18 more elements
A pump-augmented Loop Heat Pipe (LHP), comprising:
- a first evaporator constructed to receive external heat and evaporate a working fluid;
- a reservoir integrated with the first evaporator;
- a vapor transport line connected to the first evaporator;
- a condenser connected to the vapor transport line;
- a liquid return line connected to the condenser and the reservoir;
- a fluid transport line connected to the liquid return line and the vapor transport line;
- a pump situated along the liquid return line;
- a plurality of evaporators situated along the fluid transport line;
- and
- a check valve situated along the fluid transport line and arranged to supply a liquid received from the pump directly to the plurality of evaporators situated along the fluid transport line;
- wherein the pump-augmented LHP is constructed to operate in:
- a first mode where the check valve is closed such that:
- (i) evaporated working fluid, evaporated by the first evaporator, is received by the vapor transport line and provided to the condenser,
- (ii) the condenser condenses the evaporated working fluid, evaporated by the first evaporator, into a liquid working fluid and provides the liquid working fluid to the liquid return line, and
- (iii) the liquid working fluid provided to the liquid return line is supplied to the pump which then supplies the liquid working fluid to the reservoir, and
- a second mode where the check valve is open such that:
- (i) the evaporated working fluid, evaporated by the first evaporator, is received by the vapor transport line and provided to the condenser,
- (ii) evaporated working fluid, evaporated by the plurality of evaporators situated along the fluid transport line is also received by the vapor transport line and provided to the condenser,
- (iii) the condenser condenses the evaporated working fluid evaporated by the first evaporator and the evaporated working fluid evaporated by the plurality of evaporators situated along the fluid transport line into a liquid working fluid and provides the liquid working fluid to the liquid return line and fluid transport line,
- (iv) the liquid working fluid provided to the liquid return line is supplied to the reservoir, and
- (v) the liquid working fluid provided to the fluid transport line is pumped by the pump through the check valve and directly to the plurality of evaporators situated along the fluid transport line.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.