Porous vapor valve for improved loop thermosiphon performance

A loop thermosiphon comprising:

• at least one evaporator;
• at least one condenser;
• at least one vapor conduit interconnecting said evaporator and said condenser in flow communication;
• at least one condensate conduit interconnecting said evaporator and said condenser in flow communication;
• a flow channel positioned in parallel between a vapor inlet to said at least one condenser and a condensate outlet to said at least one evaporator;
• and
• a porous plug lodged within said condensate conduit and positioned between said parallel flow channel and said vapor inlet to said at least one condenser wherein a first pressure on a condenser side of said porous plug is greater than a second pressure on an evaporator side of said porous plug such that a mixture of liquid and vapor is forced up through said at least one condenser thereby diverting said liquid and vapor when said loop thermosiphon comprises a first gravity head, and (ii) allowing said fluid to flow freely back to said evaporator when said loop thermosiphon comprises a second gravity head thereby preventing a buildup of fluid in said condenser and a potential dry out condition in said evaporator.

A loop thermosiphon comprising an evaporator having a liquid inlet and a condenser having a vapor inlet, and interconnected in flow communication by at least one vapor conduit and at least one condensate conduit and a having a wick disposed in a portion of said evaporator and a portion of said at least one condensate conduit adjacent to said evaporator;

• a flow channel positioned in parallel between said vapor inlet to said condenser and said liquid inlet to said evaporator;
• and
• a coolant fluid disposed within said loop thermosiphon;
• and
• a porous valve lodged within said condensate conduit between said flow channel and said vapor inlet to said condenser wherein a first pressure on a condenser side of said porous valve is greater than a second pressure on an evaporator side of said porous valve such that a portion of said coolant fluid disposed within said loop thermosiphon is forced through said porous valve and a remaining portion comprising a mixture of liquid and vapor is forced up through said at least one condenser thereby diverting said liquid and vapor when said loop thermosiphon comprises a first gravity head, and (ii) allowing said fluid to flow freely back to said evaporator when said loop thermosiphon comprises a second gravity head thereby preventing a buildup of fluid in said condenser and a potential dry out condition in said evaporator.

A loop thermosiphon comprising:

• at least one evaporator including at least one chamber having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a wick disposed adjacent to said inlet opening;
• at least one condenser including a plurality of ducts, each having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;
• at least one vapor conduit interconnecting said evaporator outlet opening and said condenser inlet opening;
• at least one condensate conduit interconnecting said evaporator inlet opening and said condenser outlet opening;
• a return duct disposed in flow communication between said outlet openings and said at least one condensate conduit;
• and
• a seeping barrier positioned within said condensate conduit between said inlet openings of said at least one condenser and said return duct wherein a first pressure on a condenser side of said seeping barrier is greater than a second pressure on an evaporator side of said seeping barrier such that a portion of said liquid coolant fluid disposed within said loop thermosiphon seeps through said barrier and a remaining portion comprising a mixture of liquid and vapor is forced up through said at least one condenser thereby diverting said liquid and vapor when said loop thermosiphon comprises a first gravity head, and (ii) allowing said fluid to flow freely back to said evaporator when said loop thermosiphon comprises a second gravity head thereby preventing a buildup of fluid in said condenser and a potential dry out condition in said evaporator.

A loop thermosiphon comprising:

• at least one evaporator;
• at least one condenser comprising a plurality of condenser-ducts each having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, wherein said inlet opening is in flow communication with at least one vapor conduit and said at least one evaporator and said outlet opening is in flow communication with a return duct having an outlet opening disposed in flow communication with a condensate conduit and between said condenser-duct inlet openings and said at least one evaporator, said at least one vapor conduit interconnecting said evaporator and said condenser in flow communication, said at least one condensate conduit interconnecting said evaporator and said condenser in flow communication;
• and
• a porous plug lodged within said condensate conduit and positioned within said condensate conduit between said outlet opening of said return duct and at least one of said condenser-ducts so as to (i) divert said vapor when said loop thermosiphon comprises said first gravity head, and (ii) allow said fluid to flow freely back to said at least evaporator when said loop thermosiphon comprises said second gravity head thereby preventing a buildup of fluid in said condenser and a potential dry out condition in said at least one evaporator.