Thermal management system
OwnerPaul Crutchfieldinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention includes use of suitable inert, or non-reactive, gas, or gases, having suitably small molecules (such as helium or neon) in a heat pipe to enhance the surface tension (capillarity) of the heat pipe working fluid, thus improving the design and performance of almost any heat pipe. A region in the vapor space adjacent to the curved liquid surface contributes about 5-10% to the total surface tension, and is described as the Crutchfield Transition Region. The invention takes advantage of the kinetic theory of capillarity based on penetrations of the liquid surface by the overbearing gas and vapor molecules until a collision between liquid and gaseous molecules occurs. Smaller molecules such as helium penetrate further. A spread loss (or gain) of the particle flux frames a pressure change.
Claims17
In a heat pipe having a container, a transfer device, and a working fluid, the improvement comprising the addition of a gas in the container having suitably small molecules to enhance the surface tension of the working fluid.
In a heat pipe having a container, a transfer device, and a working fluid, the improvement comprising the addition of a gas in the container wherein the gas and the working fluid have a mean free path greater than that between air and water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.