Shell and tube heat pipe condenser

A heat pipe working fluid conduit assembly for transferring vaporized working fluid from a heat pipe evaporator to a heat exchanger of a Stirling engine and for returning liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said evaporator, said engine of the type having a plurality of cylinders each having an adjacent cylindrical shell enclosing said heat exchanger, comprising:

• a conduit communicating with said evaporator and said heat exchanger for transferring said vaporized working liquid, said conduit having a flared shell joining said heat exchanger cylindrical shell, whereby the cross-sectional area of said conduit increases as said vaporized working fluid approaches said heat exchanger, and
• a duct disposed inside said conduit for receiving said liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger and returning said liquid to said evaporator, said duct extending into said flared shell and having an inlet disposed in said flared shell and positioned at a lower area of said flared shell for receiving condensed liquid heat pipe working fluid.

A heat pipe working fluid conduit assembly for transferring vaporized working fluid from a heat pipe evaporator to a heat exchanger of a Stirling engine and for returning liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said evaporator comprising:

• a conduit communicating with said evaporator and said heat exchanger for transferring said vaporized working fluid, said conduit having a flared shell joining said heat exchanger whereby the cross-sectional area of said conduit increases as said conduit approaches said heat exchanger, and
• a duct disposed inside said conduit for receiving said liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger and returning said liquid to said evaporator, wherein said duct has an aperture along its length to equalize pressure between said conduit and said duct.

A heat pipe working fluid conduit assembly for transferring vaporized working fluid from a heat pipe evaporator to a heat exchanger of a Stirling engine and for returning liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said evaporator comprising:

• a conduit communicating with said evaporator and said heat exchanger for transferring said vaporized working fluid, said conduit having a flared shell joining said heat exchanger whereby the cross-sectional area of said conduit increases as said conduit approaches said heat exchanger,
• a duct disposed inside said conduit for receiving said liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger and returning said liquid to said evaporator, and
• at least one surface tension breaker communicating said heat exchanger with said duct for wicking said liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said duct.

A heat pipe working fluid conduit assembly for transferring vaporized working fluid from a heat pipe evaporator to a heat exchanger of a Stirling engine and for returning liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said evaporator comprising:

• a conduit communicating with said evaporator and said heat exchanger for transferring said vaporized working fluid, said conduit having a flared shell joining said heat exchanger whereby the cross-sectional area of said conduit increases as said conduit approaches said heat exchanger,
• a duct disposed inside said conduit for receiving said liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger and returning said liquid to said evaporator, and
• a baffle partially shielding said heat exchanger for guiding said vaporized working fluid to an upper portion of said heat exchanger whereby said vaporized working fluid is directed to flow downwardly through said heat exchanger and said liquid working fluid condensing within said heat exchanger and falling into said duct.

A heat pipe working fluid conduit assembly for transferring vaporized working fluid from a heat pipe evaporator to a heat exchanger of a Stirling engine and for returning liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said evaporator, said engine of the type having a plurality of cylinders each having an adjacent cylindrical shell enclosing said heat exchanger, comprising:

• a conduit communicating with said evaporator and said heat exchanger for transferring said vaporized working liquid, said conduit having a flared shell joining said heat exchanger cylindrical shell, whereby the cross-sectional area of said conduit increases as said conduit approaches said heat exchanger, and
• a duct disposed inside said conduit for receiving said liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger and returning said liquid to said evaporator, said duct having an inlet disposed in said flared shell and positioned at a lower area of said flared shell for receiving condensed liquid heat pipe working fluid, wherein said duct has an aperture along its length to equalize pressure between said conduit and said duct.

A heat pipe working fluid conduit assembly for transferring vaporized working fluid from a heat pipe evaporator to a heat exchanger of a Stirling engine and for returning liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said evaporator, said engine of the type having a plurality of cylinders each having an adjacent cylindrical shell enclosing said heat exchanger, comprising:

• a conduit communicating with said evaporator and said heat exchanger for transferring said vaporized working liquid, said conduit having a flared shell joining said heat exchanger cylindrical shell, whereby the cross-sectional area of said conduit increases as said conduit approaches said heat exchanger,
• a duct disposed inside said conduit for receiving said liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger and returning said liquid to said evaporator, said duct having an inlet disposed in said flared shell and positioned at a lower area of said flared shell for receiving condensed liquid heat pipe working fluid, and
• at least one surface tension breaker communicating said heat exchanger with said duct inlet for wicking liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said duct.

A heat pipe working fluid conduit assembly for transferring vaporized working fluid from a heat pipe evaporator to a heat exchanger of a Stirling engine and for returning liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said evaporator, said engine of the type having a plurality of cylinders each having an adjacent cylindrical shell enclosing said heat exchanger, comprising:

• a conduit communicating with said evaporator and said heat exchanger for transferring said vaporized working liquid, said conduit having a flared shell joining said heat exchanger cylindrical shell, whereby the cross-sectional area of said conduit increases as said conduit approaches said heat exchanger,
• a duct disposed inside said conduit for receiving said liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger and returning said liquid to said evaporator, said duct having an inlet disposed in said flared shell and positioned at a lower area of said flared shell for receiving condensed liquid heat pipe working fluid, and
• a baffle partially shielding said heat exchanger for guiding said vaporized working fluid to an upper portion of said heat exchanger whereby said vaporized working fluid is directed to flow downwardly through said heat exchanger and said liquid working fluid condensing within said heat exchanger and falling into said duct.

A heat pipe working fluid conduit assembly for transferring vaporized working fluid from a heat pipe evaporator to a heat exchanger of a Stirling engine and for returning liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said evaporator comprising:

• a shell generally surrounding said heat exchanger,
• a conduit connected to said shell and cooperating with said shell to cause said vaporized working fluid to flow in a downward direction through said heat exchanger, and
• a duct disposed in said conduit and having an inlet positioned to receive liquid working fluid flowing downwardly from said heat exchanger, said duct returning said liquid to said evaporator.