Capillary device for use in heat pipe and method of manufacturing such capillary device
AssigneeAavid Thermal Corp.
InventorsRyan James McGlen, John Gilbert Thayer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A capillary device (102) for use in a heat pipe in which heat is transferred from at least one evaporation region to at least one condensation region by means of evaporated working fluid is disclosed. The capillary device comprises a body portion defining chambers (108) containing powdered material (110) therein, wherein at least part of the periphery of at least one said chamber is porous to allow flow of condensed working fluid, by means of capillary action, through said powdered material in said chamber when flowing from a condensation region to an evaporation region.
Claims29
A heat transfer pipe in which heat is transferred from an evaporation region to a condensation region by means of working fluid, the heat transfer pipe comprising:
- a body portion defining a central channel, the central channel extending between and in fluid communication with the evaporation region and the condensation region;
- and
- a capillary structure within the body portion and surrounding the central channel, wherein the capillary structure comprises a plurality of spaced-apart porous protrusions extending radially into the central channel with each protrusion separated from an adjacent protrusion by a gap therebetween;
- wherein the heat transfer pipe includes successive layers of metal powder that are located over a donor material and have been melted by an energetic beam, wherein the successive layers at least partially define the plurality of porous protrusions.
A heat transfer pipe in which heat is transferred from an evaporation region to a condensation region by means of working fluid, the heat transfer pipe comprising:
- a solid outer body portion;
- a porous capillary structure within the outer body portion extending between and in fluid communication with the evaporation region and the condensation region;
- and
- a plurality of vapor flow channels embedded in the capillary structure and extending between and in fluid communication with the evaporation region and the condensation region.
A heat transfer pipe in which heat is transferred from an inlet chamber to an outlet chamber by means of working fluid, the heat pipe comprising:
- an outer body portion;
- and
- a porous capillary structure positioned within the outer body portion between and in fluid communication with the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, wherein the porous capillary structure has a porous rigid outer wall and contains unfused powder material.
A heat transfer apparatus comprising:
- an evaporation chamber;
- and
- a condensation chamber in fluid communication with the evaporation chamber, wherein heat is transferred from the evaporation chamber to the condensation region by means of working fluid,
- wherein the evaporation chamber includes
- an outer cylindrical body that defines an interior volume,
- a porous capillary structure positioned within the interior volume adjacent an interior surface of the outer cylindrical body, wherein the porous capillary structure defines an interior annular chamber enclosing a layer of unfused metal powder,
- an elongate escape channel positioned between the interior surface of the outer cylindrical body and the interior annular chamber, wherein the elongate escape channel extends from an interior of the porous capillary structure to a first opening in the porous capillary structure, wherein the first opening is in fluid communication with the interior volume and is formed at an end face of the porous capillary structure,
- a plurality of spaced-apart circumferential vapor channels interconnected by the elongate escape channel, and
- a central bore surrounded by the interior annular chamber, wherein the central bore extends between the end face and a second opening of the porous capillary structure to the interior volume, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with the interior volume and positioned opposite the end face.
A heat transfer pipe comprising:
- an evaporation region;
- a condensation region;
- a body portion extending between and in fluid communication with the evaporation region and the condensation region;
- and
- a capillary structure configured to direct working fluid between the evaporation region and the condensation region;
- wherein the capillary structure includes successive layers of metal powder that have each been melted by an energetic beam to be secured to one or more other layers of the successive layers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.