Serpentine heat pipe and dehumidification application in air conditioning systems

An apparatus comprising:

• a cooling coil, and
• a single continuous coil two-section heat pipe having a generally U-shaped configuration, said single continuous coil two-section heat pipe including
• first and second serpentine heat pipe sections each configured as a continuous coil, and
• a vapor line and a liquid return line which connect said first serpentine heat pipe section to said second serpentine heat pipe section thereby forming said single continuous coil two-section heat pipe with said generally U-shaped configuration with said first serpentine heat pipe section and said second serpentine heat pipe section on respective sides of said U-shape,
• wherein said first and second serpentine heat pipe sections each include a plurality of U-shaped tubes,
• wherein said single continuous coil two-section heat pipe is partially filled with a refrigerant which passively circulates through the single continuous coil two-section heat pipe in a self-pumping manner and without the aid of a separate pump, and said first serpentine heat pipe section forms an evaporator section of said two-section heat pipe and said second serpentine heat pipe section forms a condenser section of the two-section heat pipe,
• wherein said first and second serpentine heat pipe sections, said vapor line, and said liquid return line are constructed and arranged such that, in operation, said first and second serpentine heat pipe sections and said cooling coil are horizontally aligned in side-by-side-by-side fashion with said cooling coil being disposed in between said first and second serpentine heat pipe sections.

A device for improving the dehumidification capability of an air conditioner, comprising:

• a primary evaporator having a base, a side surface substantially perpendicular to said base, and an operative surface substantially perpendicular to said base, said base having a bottom surface parallel to a ground plane;
• a single continuous coil U-shaped two-section heat pipe heat exchanger including
• a refrigerant which passively circulates through said U-shaped two-section heat pipe heat exchanger in a continuous cycle and in a self-pumping manner without the aid of a separate pump,
• a first serpentine section disposed opposing a first side of said operative surface and arranged substantially parallel therewith, said first serpentine section forming an evaporator section of said U-shaped two-section heat pipe heat exchanger,
• a second serpentine section disposed opposing a second side of said operative surface and arranged substantially parallel therewith, said second serpentine heat pipe section forming a condenser section of said U-shaped two-section heat pipe heat exchanger,
• a vapor line connecting said first serpentine section to said second serpentine section, said vapor line located adjacent said side surface, said vapor line being parallel to a bottom surface of said base, and said vapor line having a linear section with a length less than a height of said at least one side surface, and
• a liquid return line connecting said first serpentine section to said second serpentine section, said liquid return line located adjacent said side surface, said vapor line and said liquid return line being parallel to a bottom surface of said base, and said liquid return line having a linear section with a length less than said height of said at least one side surface;
• and
• a housing surrounding said primary evaporator and said U-shaped two-section heat pipe heat exchanger so that said refrigerant cycles passively between said evaporator section and said condenser section when an air stream passes through said housing;
• wherein said first and second serpentine heat pipe sections each include a plurality of U-shaped tubes,
• wherein a first plane which passes through said plurality of U-shaped tubes of said first serpentine heat pipe section is parallel to a second plane which passes through said plurality of U-shaped tubes of said second serpentine heat pipe section,
• wherein a height of said second serpentine heat pipe section is approximately equal to a height of said first serpentine heat pipe section, said height of said first serpentine heat pipe section being defined by a distance between two edge tubes of said first serpentine heat pipe section and said height of said second serpentine heat pipe section being defined by a distance between two edge tubes of said second serpentine heat pipe section,
• wherein said primary evaporator is disposed between said first serpentine section and said second serpentine section.