Electrohydrodynamic inductively pumped heat pipe
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorArcher S. Mitchell, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An applied traveling potential wave induces a traveling wave of electrical harge in the liquid phase of a dielectric working fluid providing an electrical traction which pumps the working fluid from a condensing section to an evaporating section of an electrohydrodynamic inductively pumped heat pipe. In one embodiment, a surface electrical traction is induced along an open interface that extends along the liquid phase return flow circuit, and in another embodiment, the electrical traction is induced in the liquid bulk of an inhomogeneous dielectric working fluid along the liquid phase return flow circuit.
Claims11
An induction pump for pumping a dielectric liquid along a flow path from a condensing section toward an evaporating section of a heat pipe, comprising:
- means for applying a traveling potential wave along said flow path along which said liquid is pumped from said condensing section to said evaporating section;
- and
- means for inducing a traveling wave of electrical charge in said liquid in selected phase relation to said applied traveling potential wave for pumping said liquid.
A method for pumping a liquid condensate along a flow path from a condensor toward an evaporator in a heat pipe, comprising the steps of:
- applying a traveling potential wave along said flow path along which said liquid condensate is pumped;
- and
- inducing a traveling wave of electrical charge in said liquid condensate in selected phase relation to said applied traveling potential wave for pumping said liquid condensate.
A self-priming voltage controllable EHD inductively pumped heat pipe, comprising:
- a condensing section;
- an evaporating section;
- a tube connecting said condensing and evaporating sections;
- a plurality of electrode segments circumferentially disposed around and positioned along said tube;
- a working fluid having a liquid and gas phase;
- a first conduit disposed within said tube for guiding said working fluid in said gas phase from said evaporating section to said condensing section;
- a second conduit disposed within said tube for guiding said working fluid in said liquid phase from said condensing section to said evaporating section;
- and
- electrical means for generating a traveling wave of electric potential and inducing a corresponding traveling wave of electric charge in said liquid for pumping thereof from said condensing section to said evaporating section of said heat pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.