# US 2021/0239407 A1 · Evaporator with grooved channels

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- Number: US 2021/0239407 A1
- Document ID: US20210239407A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/780,154
- Filed: 2020-02-03
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2020-02-03
- Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
- Applicants: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
- Inventors: Wei-Lin Cho
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210239407A1

## CPC

- F28F 1/022: {with multiple channels}
- F28F 1/06: crimped or corrugated in cross-section
- F28D 1/0246: {heat-exchange elements having several adjacent conduits forming a whole, e.g. blocks}
- F28D 15/0233: {the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular (F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence)}
- F28F 1/40: the means being only inside the tubular element
- F28F 3/12: Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels {(F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence)}
- F28F 9/0282: {by varying the geometry of conduit ends, e.g. by using inserts or attachments for modifying the pattern of flow at the conduit inlet or outlet}
- B64G 1/506: {Heat pipes}
- F28D 2021/0021: {for aircrafts or cosmonautics}
- F28D 2021/0064: {Vaporizers, e.g. evaporators}
- F28D 2021/0071: {Evaporators}
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)
- B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

## Abstract

An evaporator element is provided and includes a body defining channels, each of which includes grooves respectively delimited by first and second interior facing sidewalls of the body which form a base and an apex with an apex angle opposite the base and defined such that, for a fluid flow moving through one of the channels in a microgravity environment a portion of the fluid flow in a liquid phase within a groove of the channel will move in the groove from the base to the apex and a portion of the fluid flow in a vapor phase within a groove of the channel will move in the groove from the apex to the base.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An evaporator element, comprising:
a body defining channels, each of which comprises grooves respectively delimited by first and second interior facing sidewalls of the body which form a base and an apex with an apex angle opposite the base and defined such that, for a fluid flow moving through one of the channels in a microgravity environment:
a portion of the fluid flow in a liquid phase within a groove of the channel will move in the groove from the base to the apex, and
a portion of the fluid flow in a vapor phase within a groove of the channel will move in the groove from the apex to the base.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The evaporator element according to claim 1, wherein the channels are arrayed in a linear formation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The evaporator element according to claim 1, wherein each of the channels has a same shape.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The evaporator element according to claim 1, wherein each of the grooves is immediately adjacent to neighboring grooves.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The evaporator element according to claim 1, wherein each of the grooves has a same shape.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The evaporator element according to claim 1, wherein the grooves are circumferentially arrayed to extend outwardly from an open central region.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The evaporator element according to claim 1, wherein the apex angle is 2β and β is less than 90° minus a solid-liquid contact angle.

### Claim 8

An evaporator element comprising a body defining channels, each of which comprises grooves respectively delimited by first and second interior facing sidewalls of the body which form an apex angle 2β, where β is less than 90° minus a solid-liquid contact angle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The evaporator element according to claim 8, wherein the channels are arrayed in a linear formation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The evaporator element according to claim 8, wherein each of the channels has a same shape.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The evaporator element according to claim 8, wherein each of the grooves is immediately adjacent to neighboring grooves.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The evaporator element according to claim 8, wherein each of the grooves has a same shape.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The evaporator element according to claim 8, wherein the grooves are circumferentially arrayed to extend outwardly from an open central region.

### Claim 14

An evaporator, comprising:
first and second headers; and
a body interposed between the first and second headers and defining channels to permit fluid flow between the first and second headers,
each channel comprising grooves respectively delimited by first and second interior facing sidewalls of the body which form a base and an apex with an apex angle opposite the base and defined such that, for a fluid flow moving through one of the channels in a microgravity environment:
a portion of the fluid flow in a liquid phase within a groove of the channel will move in the groove from the base to the apex, and
a portion of the fluid flow in a vapor phase within a groove of the channel will move in the groove from the apex to the base.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The evaporator according to claim 14, wherein the channels are arrayed in a linear formation and each of the channels has a same shape.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The evaporator according to claim 14, wherein each of the grooves is immediately adjacent to neighboring grooves and each of the grooves has a same shape.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The evaporator according to claim 14, wherein the grooves are circumferentially arrayed to extend outwardly from an open central region.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The evaporator according to claim 14, wherein the apex angle is 2β, where β is less than 90° minus a solid-liquid contact angle.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The evaporator according to claim 14, further comprising orifice inserts respectively interposable between one of the first and second headers and a corresponding channel.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The evaporator according to claim 19, wherein each orifice insert comprises:
a center plug defining multiple inflow channels; and
a ring feature disposed about the center plug and defining a plenum with which termination points of the multiple inflow channels are fluidly communicative.