Two phase vacuum pumped loop
AssigneeThermal Corp.
InventorW. John Bilski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat transfer system includes a wick, a vacuum pump and a heat exchanger. The wick receives a condensed liquid. The wick receives heat from a heat source. The vacuum pump reduces pressure in the wick while turned on, so that at least a portion of the liquid evaporates within the wick to form a vapor that is pumped by the pump. The heat exchanger is coupled to receive the vapor from the pump. The heat exchanger rejects heat to form the condensed liquid from the vapor. The heat exchanger returns the condensed liquid to the wick.
Claims18
A heat transfer system comprising:
- a wick that receives a condensed liquid, the wick receiving heat from a heat source;
- a vacuum pump that reduces pressure at the wick while turned on, so that at least a portion of the liquid evaporates within the wick to form a vapor that is pumped by the pump;
- and
- a heat exchanger coupled to receive the vapor from the pump, the heat exchanger rejecting heat to form the condensed liquid from the vapor, the heat exchanger returning the condensed liquid to the wick;
- and wherein:
- the wick is porous and is made of a sintered metal powder, and there is a pressure drop through the wick sufficient to substantially prevent flow while the vacuum pump is turned off;
- the vapor passes through the vacuum pump, but the condensed liquid does not pass through the vacuum pump;
- and
- the system further comprises a valve between the heat exchanger and the wick to regulate flow of the condensed liquid back to the wick, wherein the liquid passes through the valve without having the condensed liquid evaporate in the valve.
A heat transfer system comprising:
- a wick that receives a condensed liquid, the wick receiving heat from a heat source,
- a vacuum pump that reduces pressure at the wick while turned on, so that at least a portion of the liquid evaporates within the wick to form a vapor that is pumped by the pump;
- and
- a heat exchanger coupled to receive the vapor from the pump, the heat exchanger rejecting heat to form the condensed liquid from the vapor, the heat exchanger returning the condensed liquid to the wick;
- wherein the vapor passes through the vacuum pump, but minimal condensed liquid passes through the vacuum pump.
A method for transferring heat, comprising the steps of:
- (a) conducting heat from a heat source to a porous metal powder wick;
- (b) forming a partial vacuum using a vacuum pump to draw a condensed fluid into the porous wick;
- (c) evaporating the condensed liquid within the porous wick to form a vapor;
- (d) pumping the vapor out from the porous wick using the vacuum pump, while passing minimal liquid through the vacuum pump;
- (e) condensing the vapor in a heat exchanger to form the condensed liquid from the vapor;
- and
- (f) returning the condensed liquid to the porous wick.
A method for transferring heat, comprising the steps of:
- (a) transferring heat from a heat source to a wick;
- (b) reducing pressure in the wick with a vacuum pump;
- (c) evaporating a liquid within the wick to form a vapor;
- (d) pumping the vapor out from the wick without pumping liquid from the wick;
- (e) condensing the vapor outside of the wick to form a condensed liquid;
- and
- (f) returning the condensed liquid to the wick.
A method for transferring heat, comprising the steps of:
- (a) transferring heat from a heat source to a wick;
- (b) reducing pressure in the wick;
- (c) evaporating a liquid within the wick to form a vapor;
- (d) pumping the vapor out from the wick, while passing minimal liquid through the vacuum pump;
- (e) condensing the vapor outside of the wick to form a condensed liquid;
- and
- (f) returning the condensed liquid to the wick.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.