Self-heated diffuser assembly for a heat pipe

Abstract

A diffuser unit for allowing non-condensing gases collecting within a heat pipe to be eliminated. The embodiments described herein define a cavity for collection of non-condensing gases such as hydrogen. The housings are arranged such that the heat pipe working fluid in vapor form transfers heat to the walls of the housing defining the collection cavity to raise the wall temperature thus increasing its permeability to the non-condensing gas. Accordingly, when the heat pipe is used in applications where non-condensing gases such as hydrogen tend to diffuse into the heat pipe such as when it is directly heated by a hydrocarbon combustion, such non-condensing gases can be readily eliminated. Such diffusion of non-condensing gases occurs without the requirement of providing a conventional "getter" which uses special material for absorbing or breaking down such non-condensing gases. The diffuser assemblies in accordance with this invention are self-regulating and entirely passive in operation, requiring no external heat inputs or control signals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.