Variable conductance heat pipe enhancement

Patent · Tue Sep 03 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5632451

Kneidel, K E

This patent describes a heat pipe. It comprises a tubular hollow heat pipe having an evaporator end and an opposite condenser end, the heat pipe having a cross-sectional area and having a condenser length extending from the condenser end the condenser length including an active length where evaporated fluid condenses; an evaporatable and condensable fluid in the heat pipe for evaporating when receiving heat near the evaporation end and for condensing when giving up heat in the active length; a noncondensable gas near the condenser end and in the condenser length of the heat pipe; a restriction member fixed in the heat pipe near the condenser end, the restriction member extending only along a portion of the condenser length and being spaced away from the evaporation end of the heat pipe, the restriction member having a varied cross-sectional area along the length of the restriction member which is less than the cross-sectional area of the heat pipe for confining the gas and a portion of the fluid in the active condenser length, to an area around the restriction member and in the heat pipe; and a fixed ligament connected between the restriction member and the heat pipe for fixing the restriction member in the heat pipe, the ligament being fixed between the condenser end of the heat pipe end and an end of the restriction member which is closest to the condenser end.

• Assignee: Babcock and Wilcox Co., New Orleans, LA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5044426; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-492521
• OSTI ID: 5632451
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
42 ENGINEERING
420400* -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
CONDENSERS
DESIGN
ENERGY CONSERVATION
EVAPORATORS
FLUIDS
HEAT PIPES
VAPOR CONDENSERS
WORKING FLUIDS