Self-actuating and regulating heat exchange system

A method for transferring heat between a component having a higher temperature and a temperature zone having a lower temperature, in steps comprising:

• providing a sealed circuit containing a phase-change fluid therewithin, said phase-change fluid having a vaporization temperature within said desired operating range at the internal pressure of the said sealed circuit, said circuit having flow restrictive means permitting said phase-change fluid to flow only in one direction therein;
• providing a heat sink within said sealed circuit, situated to conductively exchange thermal energy with said component, said heat sink including a chamber through which said phase-change fluid may flow;
• providing a condenser element downstream in said circuit from said heat sink, said condenser being associated with the temperature zone so as to cool fluid passing therethrough and return gaseous phase fluid to liquid phase fluid during said passage;
• and
• providing a bladder subsystem downstream from said condenser unit and upstream form said heat sink, said bladder system including an expandable bladder for regulating fluid flow within said circuit.

A method of circulating phase-change fluid inside a heat exchange system wherein said heat exchange system comprises:

• an evaporator within a hot zone, a condenser within a cold zone, a inlet fluid flow tube, a one way inlet valve, an expandable bladder, a one-way outlet valve and a outlet fluid flow tube at an intermediated location, with members joined at their peripheries forming a hermetically-sealed circuit contained a phase-change fluid;
• wherein said inlet fluid flow tube connection said evaporator and said condenser, one way inlet valve connection said condenser and said expandable bladder, one way outlet valve connecting said expandable bladder and said outlet fluid flow tube, said outlet fluid flow tube connecting said one way outlet valve and said evaporator;
• and said method comprises the following steps:
• vaporize said phase-change fluid within said evaporator by continuously absorbing thermal energy from said hot zone and create a high pressure zone inside the said evaporator compared to pressure at said expandable bladder;
• use pressure difference to provide motive force for said phase-change fluid migration from said evaporator through said inlet fluid flow tube into said condenser;
• also use said pressure difference to provide motive force to open said one way inlet valve and close said one-way outlet valve, and allow said phase-change fluid migration from said condenser into said expandable bladder through said one way inlet valve;
• continue said phase-change fluid migration until said condenser is filled with enough vapor so that, thermal energy absorption at said evaporator becomes equal to thermal energy dissipation at said condenser;
• continue condensing said vapor within said condenser by continuously dissipating thermal energy to said colds zone;
• discontinue vaporization when said phase-change fluid inside said evaporator is completely evaporated, but continue condensing said vapor within said condenser by continuously dissipating thermal energy to said colds zone;
• create vacuum inside said condenser after all vapor residing inside said condenser is condensed;
• create a low pressure zone inside said evaporator, said inlet fluid flow tube and said condenser compared to said expandable bladder, by propagating said vacuum already created inside said condenser;
• use pressure difference between said expandable bladder and said low pressure zone to provide motive force to open one way outlet valve and close one way inlet valve;
• also, use said pressure difference to provide motive force for said phase-change fluid migration from said expandable bladder into said low pressure zone through said outlet fluid flow tube and one way outlet valve;
• and repeat all above steps in sequential cycles till both said hot zone and cold zone exists.