Heat tube
AssigneeThe Air Preheater Company, Inc.
InventorRichard F. Stockman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heat pipe heat exchanger in which heat is transferred from hot fluid in duct 12 to cold fluid in duct 14 by a continuous cycle of evaporation and condensation of a liquid contained in heat pipe 26. Should the heat pipe not function properly, the transfer of heat to that portion of the heat pipe lying in the duct for cold fluid will be reduced partially or completely. This reduction in temperature at the end of the heat pipe lying in the duct for the cold fluid is immediately sensed by a thermocouple 54 and indicated upon a gauge 56 which is adapted to identify a particular heat pipe. Repair or replacement of a faulty heat pipe will return each heat pipe to its maximum effectiveness.
Claims6
Heat exchange apparatus for the transfer of heat from a hot fluid to a cold fluid including a housing having outer walls enclosing a compartment, an apertured partition plate extending between opposite sides of said housing to divide the compartment into hot and cold fluid passageways, heat pipes extending through each aperture of said partition and substantially across the hot and cold fluid passageways, a volatile liquid contained in said heat pipes, means detachably mounting said heat pipes in the apertures of said partition plate comprising a collar fixed to the partition plate around each aperture therein, a locking collar fixed to each heat pipe adapted to matingly receive the fixed collar on the partition plate to preclude fluid flow therebetween, and means for identifying a heat pipe that fails to effectively transmit heat from the hot to the cold fluid passageways.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.