Passive Thermal Management System

Abstract

A traditional passive thermal management system can only be used effectively in a single orientation because it relies on the buoyancy of the heated air to create natural convection. A passive thermal management system is provided which includes means for transferring heat away from a heat source (10) in any orientation. The system comprises a heat pipe (14) which is thermally coupled to the heat source (10). The heat pipe (14) is capable of transferring heat away from the heat source (10), wherein this heat is transferred along the length of the heat pipe (14). Thermally coupled to the heat pipe (14) is a fin system (12), which provides a means for extraction of the heat from the heat pipe (14) and transfer of this heat to the environment thereby dissipating the heat generated at the heat source (10). The fin system (12) is configured to provide a desired level of heat transfer to the environment independent of the orientation of the thermal management system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.