US 4,967,052 AGranted

Microwave heat pipe heating system

OwnerEdward J. Krapfinventor

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Abstract

A microwave heat pipe heating system is provided and consists of at least one sealed heat pipe having self contained water therein. The heat pipe extends from a microwave containment enclosure into a domestic hot water tank. The self contained water heated by microwave beams will cause the sealed heat pipe extending into the domestic hot water tank to heat water therein for use in a normal water circulation system. In an alternate embodiment a microwave permeable pipe extends through two opposite walls of a microwave containment enclosure for conveying water capable of being heating by microwave beams. The pipe is divided into smaller pipes after entering through one of the walls and reconvening before exiting through other of the walls of the microwave containment enclosure to expose more water surface area to the microwave beams to enhance the heating efficiency of the microwave beams.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A microwave heat pipe heating system which comprises:

(a) a domestic hot water tank having a cold water inlet pipe and a hot water outlet pipe connected to a normal water circulation system;
(b) a microwave containment enclosure mounted to the underside of a bottom wall of said domestic hot water tank;
(c) a microwave generator having a wave guide for directing microwave beams into said microwave containment enclosure;
and
(d) at least one sealed heat pipe having self contained water therein, said at least one sealed heat pipe extending from said microwave containment enclosure into said domestic hot water tank so that the self contained water heated by the microwave beams will cause said at least one sealed heat pipe extending into said domestic hot water tank to heat water therein for the use in the normal water circulation system;
wherein each of said at least one sealed heat pipe comprises a top portion made of a heat conductive metal extending through said bottom wall of said domestic hot water tank;
a protective coating applied onto the interior surface of said top portion to prevent microwave damage;
a bottom portion made of microwave permeable material extending through the top wall of said microwave containment enclosure;
and a connector sealing said top portion to said bottom portion to keep the self contained water therein.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.