Thermal Transfer Loop for Advanced Heat Pipe Systems
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Summary
Problems
Existing heat pipe systems face limitations in transferring thermal energy in any direction and over long distances due to the constraints of capillary forces and thermal resistance, particularly when using wicks, which restrict their application and efficiency.
Innovation solutions
A heat pipe system with a pump to return condensed working fluid from a heat sink back to the evaporator, forming a hermetically sealed circuit, where the pump is driven externally to avoid physical connections and reduce leakage risks, allowing for directional and long-distance thermal energy transfer without the need for wicks.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If a wick is used to return condensate to the evaporator via capillary action, then the heat pipe can transfer heat in any direction including against gravity, but the system experiences large thermal resistance and limitations of capillary forces
Why choose this principle:
The invention extracts and removes the wick component from the heat pipe system entirely. By eliminating the wick, the system avoids the thermal resistance and capillary force limitations that wicks impose, while still achieving condensate return through alternative means (gravity assistance in thermosiphons or external pumping in advanced configurations).
Principle concept:
If a wick is used to return condensate to the evaporator via capillary action, then the heat pipe can transfer heat in any direction including against gravity, but the system experiences large thermal resistance and limitations of capillary forces
Why choose this principle:
The invention replaces the mechanical capillary action mechanism (wick-based) with alternative mechanisms: either gravity-assisted flow in thermosiphons or externally driven pumping systems. This substitution eliminates the thermal resistance inherent in wick materials while maintaining the ability to return condensate to the evaporator.
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A heat pipe system with a pump to return condensed working fluid from a heat sink back to the evaporator, forming a hermetically sealed circuit, where the pump is driven externally to avoid physical connections and reduce leakage risks, allowing for directional and long-distance thermal energy transfer without the need for wicks.
Abstract
A heat pipe system including a heat pipe having a first end and a second end for transferring working fluid from the first to the second end, a first reservoir in fluid communication with the first end for holding working fluid in liquid form, a first heat exchanger for transmitting thermal energy from a heat source to working fluid in the first reservoir to vaporize the fluid, a second heat exchanger for transmitting thermal energy from vaporized working fluid to a heat sink thereby condensing the fluid, a return conduit and a pump for pumping the condensed working fluid along the return conduit, where the heat pipe, the return conduit and the first reservoir form a hermetically sealed circuit. A method of transferring thermal energy using a heat pipe system is also disclosed.