A reservoir for an evaporator

Abstract

The application provides a liquid reservoir for evaporator, which mainly comprises a liquid storage cylinder, an end cover, a refrigeration device, a heating assembly and a temperature measuring element. The liquid storage cylinder and the end cover are sealingly connected and are provided with a fluid interface for transmitting fluid. The liquid reservoir is provided with a capillary core mounting position for fixedly connecting the capillary core. The outer wall surface of the liquid reservoir is provided with the refrigeration device and the heating assembly. The heating assembly is provided with a main heater and an auxiliary heater. The main heater and the auxiliary heater are symmetrically distributed on the two sides of the liquid storage cylinder. The temperature measuring element is embeddedly installed in the liquid reservoir. The application has simple structure. The coupling of the refrigeration device and the heating assembly on the liquid reservoir can realize bidirectional accurate temperature control. The main and auxiliary redundant design of the heating assembly can effectively increase the stability of the working of the liquid reservoir. Further, the symmetric design of the heating assembly can reduce the unevenness of heat transfer when the main and auxiliary heaters are replaced, thereby helping to realize accurate and stable heat dissipation work.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of heat dissipation technology, specifically to a liquid reservoir for an evaporator. Background Technology

[0002] Loop heat pipes are common heat transfer components in precision devices such as high-frequency electronic equipment and aerospace equipment. The receiver, as a crucial part of the loop heat pipe, primarily functions to store and supply the working fluid. Its interaction with the evaporator and capillary wick directly affects the system's heat transfer efficiency. Traditional receivers for evaporators only provide basic working fluid storage and transport, with the working fluid temperature entirely dependent on the natural heat exchange regulation of the loop heat pipe system. This type of receiver design has significant limitations in practical applications: the working fluid temperature is easily affected by fluctuations in external ambient temperature and equipment operating load, making it impossible to maintain a stable saturation state. This leads to temperature fluctuations in the evaporator and related loads. When the equipment is under extreme conditions or operating continuously for extended periods, the working fluid temperature deviation accumulates, severely impacting the operational stability of precision electronic components and even causing performance degradation or malfunctions. This makes it difficult to meet the stringent temperature control requirements of applications.

[0003] Therefore, existing technologies include liquid receivers with temperature control functions, which solve the above problems to some extent. However, existing liquid receivers with temperature control structures still have shortcomings, such as: the thermal coupling design between the temperature control element and the liquid receiver body is not optimized, resulting in heat conduction path losses and delayed temperature control response; and the unreasonable layout of the temperature control components leads to uneven temperature distribution of the working fluid within the liquid receiver, resulting in inadequate temperature regulation in local areas. These problems collectively make it difficult for existing liquid receivers with temperature control functions to achieve high-precision temperature control, and they are prone to situations where the working fluid temperature fluctuations exceed the tolerance range of precision equipment.

[0004] Furthermore, existing temperature control structures rely on a single component and lack redundant backup design, neglecting operational needs in emergency situations.

[0005] In summary, an improved temperature-controlled liquid receiver for evaporators is needed to solve the aforementioned technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0006] This application addresses the problems existing in the prior art by providing a liquid storage device with a simple structure and bidirectional heating and cooling regulation capability, and increases operational stability through a main and auxiliary heating redundancy backup design.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is as follows: An evaporator liquid receiver mainly includes a liquid receiver cylinder, an end cap, a refrigeration device, a heating assembly, and a temperature sensing element; The liquid storage cylinder and the end cap are sealed together, and a fluid interface is provided on the liquid storage cylinder body and / or the end cap body for transferring fluid; The reservoir is provided with a capillary wick mounting position for fixing and connecting the capillary wick; The cooling device and the heating assembly are installed on the outer wall of the liquid storage container; The heating assembly includes a main heater and an auxiliary heater; the main heater and the auxiliary heater are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the liquid storage tank; The temperature sensing element is embedded in the liquid reservoir.

[0008] Optionally, the cooling device is a semiconductor cooler; The cold end of the semiconductor cooler has a contoured curved surface that fits against the outer wall of the liquid storage cylinder.

[0009] Optionally, the cooling unit of the semiconductor cooler is a semiconductor cooling chip; A heat transfer seat is mounted on the cooling surface of the semiconductor refrigeration chip; one side of the heat transfer seat is the contoured curved surface and is in contact with the outer wall of the liquid storage cylinder; the other side of the heat transfer seat is a planar structure and is in contact with the cooling surface of the semiconductor refrigeration chip.

[0010] Optionally, the hot end of the thermoelectric cooler is equipped with a heat pipe for conducting heat from the thermoelectric cooler.

[0011] Optionally, both the main heater and the auxiliary heater are thin-film heaters; Both the main heater and the auxiliary heater are attached to the outer wall of the liquid storage cylinder.

[0012] Optionally, the refrigeration device and the main heater and auxiliary heater are arranged in a star shape along the periphery of the liquid storage tank; The refrigeration unit is located on the side near the top, while the main heater and the auxiliary heater are located on the side near the bottom.

[0013] Optionally, the temperature sensing element is a thermistor; The temperature sensing end of the temperature sensing element extends into the cavity of the liquid reservoir; The lead end of the temperature sensing element extends out of the liquid reservoir, and a sealing structure is provided at the interface.

[0014] Optionally, both the liquid storage tank and the end cap are made of stainless steel. The liquid storage cylinder and the end cap are sealed together by a welded structure.

[0015] Optionally, the outer diameter of the liquid storage cylinder is in the range of 45mm-55mm, the inner diameter is in the range of 40mm-50mm, and the length is in the range of 40mm-50mm. The volume of the internal cavity of the liquid reservoir ranges from 50cm³ to 75cm³.

[0016] Optionally, the rated power of the main heater is greater than or equal to the rated power of the auxiliary heater; The rated power range of the main heater and the auxiliary heater is 15W-20W.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, this application has the following advantages: This application has a simple structure. By coupling the cooling device and heating component to the liquid receiver, it can achieve bidirectional precise temperature control. Furthermore, the redundancy design of the heating component can effectively increase the stability of the liquid receiver's operation. Moreover, the symmetrical design of the heating component can reduce the uneven heat transfer when the main and auxiliary heaters are switched on, thereby helping to achieve precise and stable heat dissipation. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the liquid reservoir mounting position structure in a specific embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the liquid reservoir in a specific embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the refrigeration device and the heating component in a specific embodiment of this application.

[0020] In the diagram: 1. Liquid storage tank, 2. End cap, 3. Refrigeration device, 4. Heating component, 5. Heat pipe, 6. Capillary wick, 301. Semiconductor cooling chip, 302. Heat transfer base, 303. Heat transfer pad, 401. Main heater, 402. Auxiliary heater. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0022] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0023] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "provided with" and "installed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0024] It is worth noting that, unless otherwise specified, the methods used in this application are all conventional methods; and the raw materials and equipment used are all conventional commercially available products, and their sources are not specifically limited.

[0025] like Figures 1-3 As shown, this embodiment provides a liquid receiver for an evaporator, which mainly includes a liquid receiver cylinder 1 and an end cap 2. Both the liquid receiver cylinder 1 and the end cap 2 in this embodiment are made of stainless steel, a material suitable for loop heat pipe systems and ensuring long-term stability. The end cap 2 and the liquid receiver cylinder 1 are connected by a welded seal, with the weld width maintained at 1mm-2mm to ensure no leakage at the connection and meet system sealing requirements. The liquid receiver cylinder 1 and the end cap 2 form an internal cavity structure for storing the working fluid.

[0026] Optionally, the outer diameter of the liquid storage cylinder 1 ranges from 45mm to 55mm, the inner diameter ranges from 40mm to 50mm, and the length ranges from 40mm to 50mm, with an internal cavity volume ranging from 50cm³ to 75cm³. Furthermore, to adapt to scenarios with low heat dissipation power (heat dissipation power ≤ 200W), the preferred design dimensions are: outer diameter 50mm, inner diameter 45mm, length 45mm, and internal cavity volume 62cm³. This volume can meet the startup requirement of having 50% space to store the working fluid under low-temperature conditions, while also providing a buffer for the volume expansion of the working fluid under extreme high-temperature conditions.

[0027] A fluid interface is provided on the body of the liquid storage cylinder 1 or the end cap 2. In this embodiment, a reserved pipeline is provided on the end cap 2 as the fluid interface. The fluid interface is used to transfer the working fluid and ensure the stable flow of the working fluid in the loop heat pipe.

[0028] The liquid storage cylinder 1 is equipped with a capillary wick mounting position. Specifically, an annular groove is provided at the end of the liquid storage cylinder 1 near the evaporation section. The groove is 2mm wide and 1mm deep. The capillary wick 6 is fixedly connected through this groove to achieve a stable fit with the liquid storage cylinder 1. The capillary wick 6 is used to bridge the liquid storage container and the evaporation structure.

[0029] A cooling device 3 is installed on the outer wall of the liquid reservoir. The cooling device 3 is a semiconductor cooler with a contoured curved surface at its cold end, which fits against the outer wall of the liquid reservoir 1 to ensure efficient heat transfer. Optionally, the cooling unit of the cooling device 3 is a semiconductor cooler 301. A heat transfer seat 302 is installed on the cooling surface of the semiconductor cooler 301. One side of the heat transfer seat 302 is a contoured curved surface, i.e., an arc surface with a radius of 25mm, which can fit completely against the outer wall of the liquid reservoir 1 in this embodiment; the other side of the heat transfer seat 302 is a flat structure, which fits against the cooling surface of the semiconductor cooler 301. Through the connection of the heat transfer seat 302, there is no need to customize the semiconductor cooler 301, and the contoured curved surface can better fit the liquid reservoir, further reducing the interfacial thermal resistance and improving the cooling efficiency.

[0030] A heat pipe 5 is installed at the hot end of the thermoelectric cooler. The heat pipe 5 is used to conduct the heat generated during the operation of the thermoelectric cooler. The length of the heat pipe 5 is designed to adapt to the layout of the loop heat pipe condenser to ensure rapid heat transfer and guarantee the continuous and stable operation of the cooling device 3. Furthermore, a heat transfer pad 303 is installed at the hot end of the thermoelectric cooler 301, and one end of the heat pipe 5 is pressed onto the heat transfer pad 303. This makes the heat distribution more uniform, ensures heat transfer efficiency, and avoids the heat pipe 5 directly pressing onto the thermoelectric cooler 301. This prevents stress concentration caused by temperature changes in the heat pipe 5 on the thermoelectric cooler 301, thereby reducing the failure rate.

[0031] A heating assembly is also installed on the outer wall of the liquid reservoir. The heating assembly 4 includes a main heater 401 and an auxiliary heater 402. In this embodiment, both the main heater 401 and the auxiliary heater 402 are thin-film heaters, both attached to the outer wall of the liquid reservoir 1. The main heater 401 and the auxiliary heater 402 are symmetrically distributed along the circumference of the liquid reservoir 1. Optionally, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the refrigeration device 3, the main heater 401, and the auxiliary heater 402 are arranged in a triangular star shape along the periphery of the liquid storage cylinder 1. The refrigeration device 3 is located on the side near the top, and the main heater 401 and the auxiliary heater 402 are located on the side near the bottom. The angle formed by the line connecting the centers of the three devices to the center of the cylinder is ( Figure 3The angle between adjacent dotted lines is preferably 120°. This design ensures that, since the main heater 401 and auxiliary heater 402 are installed symmetrically, their heating areas are equivalent when a main / auxiliary heater needs to be replaced, thus preventing significant temperature fluctuations. Furthermore, because the heat transfer path follows a low-to-high pattern—that is, the density of the heated working fluid changes from low to high—placing the heating component 4 at a lower position helps to homogenize the working fluid temperature in the reservoir. Similarly, installing the cooling device 3 at the top is beneficial because the density of the cooled working fluid increases, causing it to sink and quickly lower the temperature of the working fluid in the reservoir, also contributing to temperature homogenization. The coupling layout of the heating and cooling components in this embodiment ensures uniform temperature regulation of the working fluid within the reservoir 1, avoiding localized temperature deviations.

[0032] The rated power of the main heater 401 and the auxiliary heater 402 is selected within the range of 15W-20W. Typically, the rated power of the main heater 401 is set to be greater than or equal to the rated power of the auxiliary heater 402. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the rated power of both the main heater 401 and the auxiliary heater 402 is 20W. This redundancy design allows the auxiliary heater 402 to quickly switch operation when the main heater 401 fails, ensuring continuous temperature control and reducing uneven heat transfer during the switching process.

[0033] In this embodiment, the temperature sensing element is a thermistor, embedded in the liquid reservoir. The sensing end of the temperature sensing element extends into the cavity of the liquid reservoir to directly contact the working fluid, ensuring real-time and accurate acquisition of the working fluid temperature signal. The lead end of the temperature sensing element extends out of the liquid reservoir, and a sealing structure is provided at the interface between the lead end and the liquid reservoir. Specifically, high-temperature resistant sealant can be used to fill the gap at the interface, ensuring both the sealing of the liquid reservoir and preventing wear on the lead. The thermistor is preferably rated at ±0.1℃ to meet the signal acquisition requirements for high-precision temperature control in the loop heat pipe system.

[0034] Overall assembly process and working principle: Assembly process: First, the capillary 6 is fixedly installed through the annular groove on the liquid storage cylinder 1 to ensure that the capillary 6 fits tightly against the inner wall of the liquid storage cylinder 1. Next, the main heater 401 and the auxiliary heater 402 are attached to the outer wall of the liquid storage cylinder 1 in symmetrical positions and fixed with high-temperature resistant adhesive; then, the heat transfer seat 302 and the heat transfer pad 303 are installed on the cooling surface of the semiconductor cooling chip 301, and the assembled cooling device 3 is installed at the preset position on the top of the liquid storage cylinder 1; further, the heat pipe 5 is connected to the hot end of the cooling device 3; then the temperature sensing element is embedded and installed to ensure that the temperature sensing end extends into the cavity and the lead end is reliably sealed. Finally, the end cap 2 and the liquid storage cylinder 1 are connected by welding to seal them together, thus completing the connection between the fluid interface and the loop heat pipe liquid pipeline, and completing the overall assembly of the liquid storage tank.

[0035] Working principle: The temperature sensing element collects the working fluid temperature signal in the liquid storage tank in real time. When the working fluid temperature is higher than the set value, the cooling device 3 is started. The cold end temperature of the semiconductor cooling chip 301 drops rapidly and absorbs the heat of the working fluid in the liquid storage tank 1 through the heat transfer seat 302. The hot end of the semiconductor cooling chip 301 transfers the heat to the heat pipe 5 to achieve cooling of the working fluid. When the working fluid temperature is lower than the set value, the main heater 401 starts to heat the liquid reservoir and raise the working fluid temperature. During this period, if the main heater 401 fails, the auxiliary heater 402 will replace the main heater 401 to continue heating the liquid reservoir.

[0036] Through the above two-way regulation, the temperature fluctuation of the working fluid in the liquid receiver is ensured to meet the requirements, as well as the requirements of the loop heat pipe system for the stability of the working fluid temperature, thereby ensuring the working stability of the evaporator and related loads.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above content is only used to illustrate the technical solution of this application, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Simple modifications or equivalent substitutions made by those skilled in the art to the technical solution of this application shall not depart from the substance and scope of the technical solution of this application.

Claims

1. A liquid receiver for an evaporator, characterized in that, It includes a liquid storage tank, end caps, a refrigeration unit, a heating assembly, and a temperature sensing element; The liquid storage cylinder and the end cap are sealed together, and a fluid interface is provided on the liquid storage cylinder body and / or the end cap body for transferring fluid; The reservoir is provided with a capillary wick mounting position for fixing and connecting the capillary wick; The cooling device and the heating assembly are installed on the outer wall of the liquid storage container; The heating assembly includes a main heater and an auxiliary heater; the main heater and the auxiliary heater are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the liquid storage tank; The temperature sensing element is embedded in the liquid reservoir.

2. The liquid receiver for an evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigeration device is a semiconductor refrigerator; The cold end of the semiconductor cooler has a contoured curved surface that fits against the outer wall of the liquid storage cylinder.

3. The liquid receiver for an evaporator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cooling unit of the semiconductor cooler is a semiconductor cooling chip; A heat transfer seat is mounted on the cooling surface of the semiconductor refrigeration chip; one side of the heat transfer seat is the contoured curved surface and is in contact with the outer wall of the liquid storage cylinder; the other side of the heat transfer seat is a planar structure and is in contact with the cooling surface of the semiconductor refrigeration chip.

4. The liquid receiver for an evaporator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hot end of the thermoelectric cooler is equipped with a heat pipe for conducting heat from the thermoelectric cooler.

5. The liquid receiver for an evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the main heater and the auxiliary heater are thin-film heaters; Both the main heater and the auxiliary heater are attached to the outer wall of the liquid storage cylinder.

6. The liquid receiver for an evaporator according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The refrigeration device, the main heater, and the auxiliary heater are arranged in a star shape along the periphery of the liquid storage tank; The refrigeration unit is located on the side near the top, while the main heater and the auxiliary heater are located on the side near the bottom.

7. The liquid receiver for an evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature sensing element is a thermistor; The temperature sensing end of the temperature sensing element extends into the cavity of the liquid reservoir; The lead end of the temperature sensing element extends out of the liquid reservoir, and a sealing structure is provided at the interface.

8. The liquid receiver for an evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the liquid storage cylinder and the end cap are made of stainless steel. The liquid storage cylinder and the end cap are sealed together by a welded structure.

9. The liquid receiver for an evaporator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the liquid storage cylinder ranges from 45mm to 55mm, the inner diameter ranges from 40mm to 50mm, and the length ranges from 40mm to 50mm. The volume of the internal cavity of the liquid reservoir ranges from 50cm³ to 75cm³.

10. The liquid receiver for an evaporator according to claim 9, characterized in that, The rated power of the main heater is greater than or equal to the rated power of the auxiliary heater; The rated power range of the main heater and the auxiliary heater is 15W-20W.

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