Novel heat pipe combination
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorFrank G. Arcella
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The basic heat pipe principle is employed in a heat pipe combination wherein two heat pipes are combined in opposing relationship to form an integral unit; such that the temperature, heat flow, thermal characteristics, and temperature-related parameters of a monitored environment or object exposed to one end of the heat pipe combination can be measured and controlled by controlling the heat flow of the opposite end of the heat pipe combination.
Claims19
Apparatus for monitoring, controlling and measuring the heat generation or dissipation rate, i.e., heat strength, of a monitored environment, comprising:
- a heat pipe combination means including a first and second pipe means each having an evaporator section and a condenser section, said first and second heat pipe means being coupled such that said condenser sections combine to form a common condenser section, the evaporator section of said first heat pipe means exposed to the monitored environment,
- heat sink means operatively coupled to said common condenser section, and
- a source of heat energy coupled to the evaporator section of said second heat pipe means for supplying a heat input to the evaporator section of said second heat pipe means to vary the amount of condenser section available to the evaporator section of said first heat pipe means.
Apparatus for monitoring, controlling or measuring the heat generation or dissipation rate, i.e. strength, of a monitored environment, comprising:
- a heat pipe combination means including a first and second heat pipe means, each having an evaporator section and a condenser section, said first and second heat pipe means being coupled such that said condenser sections combine to form a common condenser section, the evaporator section of said first heat pipe means being exposed to the monitored environment,
- heat sink means operatively coupled to said common condenser section,
- means for monitoring the temperature of the monitored environment and generating a signal indicative thereof;
- and,
- a controllable heating means operatively coupled to the evaporator section of said second heat pipe means and responsive to the signal developed by said means for monitoring the temperature to control the heating of the evaporator section of said second heat means in order to adjust the amount of condenser section available to the evaporator cection of the first heat pipe means.
Apparatus for monitoring, controlling and measuring the heat generation or dissipation rate, i.e., heat strength, of a monitored environment, comprising,
- a heat pipe combination means including a first and second heat pipe means each having an evaporator section and a condenser section, said first and second heat pipe means being coupled such that said condenser sections combine to form a common condenser section, the evaporator section of said first heat pipe means exposed to the monitored environment,
- heat sink means operatively coupled to said common condenser section,
- a pocket of non-condensible gas located within said common condenser section, and
- a source of heat energy coupled to the evaporator section of said second heat pipe means for supplying heat input to the evaporator section of said second heat pipe to control the location of said pocket of non-condensible gas within said common condenser section in order to control and/or measure the heat generation or dissipation rate of said monitored environment.
Apparatus for measuring the velocity of fluid flow as a function of the heat strength of the fluid flow, comprising,
- heat pipe combination means including a first and second heat pipe means each having an evaporator section and a condenser section, said first and second heat pipe means being coupled such that said condenser sections combine to form a common condenser section, the evaporator section of said first heat pipe means being exposed to a flowing fluid,
- the evaporator sections of said first and second heat pipe means being exposed to the temperature of the flowing fluid,
- heat sink means operatively coupled to said common condenser section,
- a pocket of non-condensible gas inserted within said common condenser section and being positioned within said common condenser section as a function of the heat strength of said flowing fluid contacting the evaporator section of said first heat pipe means,
- means for determining the location of said pocket of non-condensible gas within said common condenser section representing the heat strength of said flowing fluid and developing a signal indicative thereof, and
- circuit means responsive to said signal for producing an output signal indicative of the velocity of said fluid flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.