Heat exchanger, evaporator, device, and moving body

Abstract

A heat exchanger according to the present disclosure includes an evaporator which is provided with an evaporation body that absorbs heat from the outside and causes a liquid phase working fluid to evaporate into a gas phase while moving by means of a capillary force, the heat exchanger causing the gas phase working fluid that has been guided from the evaporator to condense, and circulates the condensed working fluid to the evaporator as the liquid phase working fluid, wherein: the evaporator is internally partitioned by the evaporation body, and includes a liquid phase accommodating chamber which is provided on one side when viewed from the evaporator and which accommodates the liquid phase working fluid, and a gas phase accommodating chamber which is provided on the opposite side of the evaporation body to the liquid phase accommodating chamber and which accommodates the gas phase working fluid; the evaporator is provided with a pressing body which is provided on the liquid phase accommodating chamber side when viewed from the evaporation body, and which presses the side surface of the evaporation body on the liquid phase accommodating chamber side; and the evaporation body has a pressed portion, which is a part that is pressed by the pressing body and which has a higher toughness than parts that are not pressed by the pressing body.

Description

Heat exchangers, evaporators, devices and mobile bodies

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger, an evaporator, an apparatus, and a moving body.

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a loop-type heat pipe that has an evaporation section, a condensation section, and a liquid return pipe inside it, and also has a wick that generates capillary force, in order to efficiently cool heat-generating components regardless of the installation angle.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-215702

[0004] In recent years, the development of electric vehicles has progressed as one of the environmental conservation measures. Along with the development of electric vehicles, the performance of semiconductors that control the motors of electric vehicles has improved. Since the improvement in semiconductor performance leads to an increase in the amount of heat generated by the semiconductors, there is a demand for heat exchangers and the like that can efficiently remove the heat flux from the semiconductors. Here, heat exchangers and the like installed in automobiles may be damaged, for example, by external impacts. Therefore, the technology disclosed in this specification aims to manufacture a heat exchanger and the like that suppresses damage to the evaporator.

[0005] To achieve this objective, the technology disclosed in this specification is a heat exchanger that has an evaporator provided with an evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and condenses the gas-phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, the interior of the evaporator being partitioned by the evaporator and having a liquid-phase storage chamber that is provided on one side of the evaporator and stores the liquid-phase working fluid, and a gas-phase storage chamber that is provided on the opposite side of the evaporator from the liquid-phase storage chamber and stores the gas-phase working fluid, the evaporator is provided with a pressing body that is provided on the liquid-phase storage chamber side of the evaporator and presses the side of the evaporator that faces the liquid-phase storage chamber, and the evaporator has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing body and has higher toughness than a portion that is not pressed by the pressing body.

[0006] According to the technology disclosed in this specification, it is possible to provide a heat exchanger or the like that prevents the evaporator from being damaged.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram showing an automobile. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an evaporator according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an evaporator according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid phase container. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a wick container. FIG. 6 is a detailed structural view of a container. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along plane VII-VII in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of an evaporator. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first modified example. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second modified example. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a third modified example.

[0008] The present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <Configuration of Automobile 1> Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an automobile 1. First, with reference to Fig. 1, the schematic configuration of the automobile 1 to which the present embodiment is applied will be described. The automobile 1 is a so-called electric vehicle. The automobile 1 has a heat-generating element 50 and a loop heat pipe 10 that cools the heat-generating element 50.

[0009] The heating element 50 is a control device that controls the motor 30 provided in the automobile 1. More specifically, the heating element 50 is a driving element of an inverter that drives the motor 30. The heating element 50 is made of, for example, a SiC semiconductor.

[0010] The loop heat pipe 10 is an example of a cooling element. The loop heat pipe 10 is configured to circulate a working fluid to cool a heat generating element 50 without supplying power from an external source.

[0011] In more detail, the loop heat pipe 10 has an evaporator 101 that evaporates the working fluid by utilizing the latent heat generated when the working fluid evaporates in order to cool the heat generating element 50, and a condenser 105 that liquefies the working fluid vaporized in the evaporator 101 by dissipating heat through the heat dissipating element 70.

[0012] The loop heat pipe 10 also includes a vapor line 107 that sends the working fluid vaporized in the evaporator 101 to the condenser 105, and a liquid line 109 that sends the working fluid liquefied in the condenser 105 to the evaporator 101. The loop heat pipe 10 is filled with a working fluid that changes phase between liquid and gas. Examples of the working fluid that can be used include water, alcohol, and ammonia.

[0013] The steam pipe 107 and the liquid pipe 109 are transport pipes that transport the working fluid. The steam pipe 107 and the liquid pipe 109 are hollow members made of stainless steel, resin, etc. The steam pipe 107 and the liquid pipe 109 may be configured to be bendable to facilitate attachment to the automobile 1.

[0014] <Operation of the Loop Heat Pipe 10> Next, the operation of the loop heat pipe 10 will be described with reference to Figure 1. First, heat generated in the heating element 50 is transferred to the evaporator 101 (see arrow C1). The working fluid absorbs heat in the evaporator 101 and vaporizes, then passes through the vapor pipe 107 to the condenser 105 (see arrow A1). The working fluid sent to the condenser 105 releases heat via the heat dissipator 70 (see arrow C2) and is liquefied. The liquefied working fluid then passes through the liquid pipe 109 and is sent back to the evaporator 101 as a so-called return liquid (see arrow A4).

[0015] 1, the condenser 105 is provided so as to be thermally connected to the heat dissipation body 70. The condenser 105 includes a serpentine condenser flow path 106. The heat dissipation body 70 also includes fins 701 that are thermally connected to the condenser flow path 106. The gas-phase working fluid dissipates heat to the fins 701 while moving inside the condenser flow path 106, causing the gas-phase working fluid to liquefy.

[0016] The loop heat pipe 10 is a gas-liquid two-phase heat transport device that utilizes the capillary force of a porous material. As described above, the loop heat pipe 10 cools the heating element 50, which is the inverter for controlling the motor of the automobile 1.

[0017] Although not particularly limited, the allowable temperature of the loop heat pipe 10 is, for example, 200°C, and the maximum heat load is 3 kW. The transport distance of the loop heat pipe 10 is 3 to 5 meters. The loop heat pipe 10 utilizes the latent heat of the working fluid to enable highly efficient heat transport. The loop heat pipe 10 can also be used as a lightweight, compact cooling device. Furthermore, by utilizing capillary force, the loop heat pipe 10 eliminates the need for power, unlike the present embodiment, which requires a pump, and also eliminates the need for pump maintenance. Furthermore, because the loop heat pipe 10 utilizes a transport pipe, it can be implemented using the same mechanism as the currently mainstream liquid cooling system.

[0018] In the following description, the direction of travel of the automobile 1, i.e., the front-rear direction of the automobile 1, may be simply referred to as the front-rear direction. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, i.e., the width direction of the automobile 1, may be simply referred to as the width direction. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the width direction, i.e., the up-down direction of the automobile 1, may be simply referred to as the up-down direction. Note that the names of directions such as the front-rear direction are used for convenience and do not limit the direction in which the loop heat pipe 10 is installed.

[0019] <Evaporator 101> (Schematic Configuration of Evaporator 101) Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the evaporator 101 according to this embodiment. Next, with reference to Fig. 2, a schematic configuration of the evaporator 101 to which this embodiment is applied will be described.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the evaporator 101 has a compensator 210 that accommodates a liquid-phase working fluid therein, and an evaporator body 310 that is provided below the compensator 210 and vaporizes the liquid-phase working fluid accommodated therein.

[0021] In the illustrated example, the compensator (Compensation Chamber) 210 is a hollow member having a substantially cylindrical shape. The compensator 210 is disposed such that the axial direction of the compensator 210, i.e., the longitudinal direction of the compensator 210, is aligned with the front-to-rear direction. This arrangement allows air to flow easily around the periphery of the compensator 210, for example, when the automobile 1 is traveling. As a result, the temperature rise of the compensator 210 can be suppressed.

[0022] In the illustrated example, the evaporator body 310 is a substantially flat plate-shaped member. The plate surface of the compensator 210 is arranged along the front-to-rear direction. This arrangement allows air to flow easily around the periphery of the evaporator body 310 when the automobile 1 is traveling. As a result, the temperature rise of the evaporator body 310 can be suppressed.

[0023] (Detailed Configuration of Evaporator 101) Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the evaporator 101 according to this embodiment. To explain further, Fig. 3(A) is an exploded perspective view seen from one side in the width direction, and Fig. 3(B) is an exploded perspective view seen from the other side in the width direction. Next, with reference to Fig. 3, the detailed configuration of the evaporator 101 to which this embodiment is applied will be described.

[0024] The evaporator 101 includes a liquid-phase container 110, a container 130 provided on one widthwise side of the liquid-phase container 110, and a wick container 170 provided on one widthwise side of the container 130. The container 130 also includes a spacer 140 and a wick 150 provided on one widthwise side of the spacer 140.

[0025] The liquid phase container 110 and the wick container 170 have a flange structure and are fixed to each other with bolts (not shown). Additionally, the container 130 is sandwiched between the liquid phase container 110 and the wick container 170. The liquid phase container 110 and the wick container 170 are fixed to each other by passing a 6 mm diameter bolt (not shown) through a through hole 224 provided in the liquid phase container 110 and a through hole 274 provided in the wick container 170. The liquid phase container 110 and the wick container 170 form a housing that houses the container 130 therein. The liquid phase container 110 and the wick container 170 are formed of, for example, a metal such as stainless steel, or a resin.

[0026] Here, the heating element 50 (see FIG. 1 ) is provided on the heat-receiving surface 175, which is the surface facing one side in the width direction of the wick housing 170. More specifically, the heat-receiving surface 175 is provided in thermal connection with the heating element 50. This allows the evaporator 101 to receive heat from the heating element 50 via the heat-receiving surface 175.

[0027] <Liquid-phase container 110> Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid-phase container 110. Next, the detailed configuration of the liquid-phase container 110 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 .

[0028] The liquid phase container 110 has a compensator 210 and a liquid reservoir 220 provided below the compensator 210. The components constituting the compensator 210 and the liquid reservoir 220 are fixed by a known method such as welding.

[0029] The compensator 210 is a cylindrical member. The compensator 210 includes a substantially circular first side plate 213, a cylindrical compensator body 215, and a substantially circular second side plate 217. The first side plate 213 has an inlet 214, which is a through-hole formed in the center of the plate surface. The liquid pipe 109 is connected to the inlet 214. That is, the liquid-phase working fluid flows from the liquid pipe 109 into the compensator 210 via the inlet 214. The dimensions of the liquid pipe 109 are not particularly limited, but are 6 mm in outer diameter and 5 mm in inner diameter.

[0030] The compensator main body 215 is also formed with a compensator-side opening 216 that opens toward the lower side of the compensator main body 215. The compensator-side opening 216 is a substantially rectangular slit whose longitudinal direction is formed along the front-to-rear direction. The compensator-side opening 216 is disposed so as to be continuous with the interior of the liquid reservoir 220.

[0031] The liquid reservoir 220 is a flat plate-shaped component. In the illustrated example, the liquid reservoir 220 includes a liquid reservoir main body 221 and a liquid-side cover 223 that covers the main body 221.

[0032] The liquid reservoir body 221 is a plate-like member having a generally rectangular shape in a plan view. The liquid reservoir body 221 includes a liquid-side opening 222, which is a through-hole provided in the center of the plate surface, and a plurality of through-holes 224 provided around the liquid-side opening 222.

[0033] The liquid side opening 222 is generally rectangular in shape, with its front-to-rear dimension greater than its up-to-down dimension. The reservoir body 221 includes a bridge 225 formed in the center of the liquid side opening 222 in the front-to-rear direction and extending in the up-to-down direction. The bridge 225 divides the liquid side opening 222 into a first liquid side opening 226 and a second liquid side opening 228.

[0034] The reservoir body 221 includes a liquid-side frame 227 on the other widthwise side of the reservoir body 221. The liquid-side frame 227 is a frame provided on the outer periphery of the liquid-side opening 222. The illustrated liquid-side frame 227 includes a wide frame portion 237 and narrow frame portions 238 provided on the upper and lower sides of the wide frame portion 237.

[0035] The wide frame portion 237 is a frame that surrounds the liquid side opening 222. The wide frame portion 237 has a generally rectangular shape in a plan view. An upper edge opening 239 is formed in the center of the upper edge in the width direction.

[0036] The narrow frame portions 238 are frame bodies that extend in the up-down direction and are disposed on either side of the upper edge opening 239 formed by the wide frame portion 237. The narrow frame portions 238 are shorter in length in the front-to-rear direction than the wide frame portion 237, i.e., are narrower in width.

[0037] The liquid-side lid 223 is a plate-like member that is generally rectangular in plan view. The liquid-side lid 223 includes a wide lid portion 234 and narrow lid portions 236 provided on the upper and lower upper sides of the wide lid portion 234. The wide lid portion 234 is shaped to cover the wide frame portion 237 of the liquid-side frame 227. The narrow lid portion 236 is shaped to cover the narrow frame portion 238 of the liquid-side frame 227. The liquid-side lid 223 covers the liquid-side frame 227, thereby forming a liquid-phase accommodation region 229 that accommodates the liquid-phase working fluid. The liquid-phase accommodation region 229 is an example of a liquid reservoir region.

[0038] The liquid phase containing region 229 is open upward via a liquid reservoir side opening 232. This liquid reservoir side opening 232 faces the compensator side opening 216, and connects the liquid phase containing region 229 with the inside of the compensator 210.

[0039] <Wick Container 170> Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the wick container 170. Next, the detailed configuration of the wick container 170 will be described with reference to Fig. 5 .

[0040] 5A, the wick container 170 has a container body 271 and a wick-side cover 273 that covers the container body 271. The components that make up the container body 271 and the wick-side cover 273 are fixed together by a known method such as welding.

[0041] The container body 271 is a plate-like member that is generally rectangular in plan view. This container body 271 has a wick-side opening 272, which is a through-hole provided in the center of the plate surface, and a plurality of through-holes 274 provided around the wick-side opening 272. In the illustrated example, the wick-side opening 272 is generally rectangular in shape, with the dimension in the front-to-rear direction being greater than the dimension in the up-down direction.

[0042] Here, the container body 271 has an O-ring groove 279 formed on the outer periphery of the wick-side opening 272 on the other side surface 278 (see FIG. 5B). The O-ring groove 279 is a groove that is generally rectangular in plan view and surrounds the outer periphery of the wick-side opening 272. An O-ring S3 (see FIG. 7, described later) is disposed in this O-ring groove 279. The O-ring S3 is a ring-shaped sealing material with a generally circular cross section. The material of the O-ring S3 is not particularly limited, but it may be made of, for example, a rubber material. Examples of this rubber material include silicone rubber, fluororubber, nitrile rubber, urethane rubber, butyl rubber, and styrene-butadiene rubber.

[0043] The container body 271 also includes a wick-side frame 277 on one side surface 282 around the outer periphery of the wick-side opening 272. The container body 271 also includes a partition wall 281 inside the wick-side frame 277, below the wick-side opening 272.

[0044] The wick-side frame 277 is a frame that surrounds the wick-side opening 272. The wick-side frame 277 has a generally rectangular shape in plan view. As will be described in detail later, a space for forming the spacer 140 and the wick 150 is formed inside the wick-side frame 277.

[0045] The partition wall 281 is a member that separates the internal space of the wick-side frame 277. More specifically, the partition wall 281 separates the wick-side frame 277 into a wick accommodating region 288 located in the upper part of the interior thereof and a gas-phase guiding region 289 located in the lower part of the interior thereof (see FIG. 5B). The wick accommodating region 288 accommodates the spacer 140 and the wick 150 therein. The gas-phase guiding region 289 serves as a flow path for the gas-phase working fluid (see FIG. 7, described later).

[0046] 5A, the wick-side frame 277 has a vapor guide portion 283, which is a portion that protrudes downward in the vertical direction, on the lower side of the center portion in the width direction. An outlet 284 to which the vapor pipe 107 is connected is formed at the lower end of the vapor guide portion 283. The vapor guide portion 283 guides the gas-phase working fluid that flows in from the gas-phase guiding region 289 to the vapor pipe 107 via the outlet 284. The dimensions of the vapor pipe 107 are not particularly limited, but are 12 mm in outer diameter and 10 mm in inner diameter.

[0047] 5(C), the wick-side cover 273 is a plate-like member having a generally rectangular shape in a plan view. The wick-side cover 273 has a guide cover portion 285, which is a convex portion that protrudes downward in the vertical direction, at the lower center of the width direction. This guide cover portion 285 covers the vapor guide portion 283 formed on the wick-side frame 277.

[0048] 5(D), the wick-side cover 273 has vapor guide protrusions 287 formed on the other side surface 286. The vapor guide protrusions 287 are protrusions extending in the vertical direction, and a plurality of them are formed on the other side surface 286. The tips 291 of the vapor guide protrusions 287 in the protruding direction are flat. When the tips 291 of the vapor guide protrusions 287 are pressed against the plate surface of the wick 150, vapor grooves 293 are formed. The vapor grooves 293 are spaces surrounded by adjacent vapor guide protrusions 287, the other side surface 286, and the wick 150. The vapor grooves 293 guide the gas-phase working fluid flowing out of the wick 150 to the vapor guide portion 283 via the gas-phase guide region 289.

[0049] The dimensions of the steam guide protrusion 287 are not particularly limited, but are, for example, as follows: As shown in FIG. 5(D), the width G1 is 0.1 mm to 5 mm, the height G2 is 0.1 mm to 5 mm, and the gap G3 is 0.1 mm to 5 mm. The thickness G5 of the wick-side cover 273 is 0.5 mm to 10 mm.

[0050] The dimensions of the wick-side frame 277 and other components are not particularly limited, but are, for example, as follows: As shown in Figures 5(B) and 5(C), the height H11 of the wick-side frame 277 is 14 mm, the height H13 of the partition wall 281 is 13 mm, and the gap H15 between the wick-side frame 277 and the partition wall 281 is 2 mm. The thickness of each of the wick-side frame 277 and the partition wall 281 is 2 mm, and the height H17 of the wick-side frame 277 and the partition wall 281 across the gap H15 is 6 mm. The distance H19 from the lower end of the wick-side cover 273 to the vapor guide protrusion 287 is 6 mm.

[0051] <Held body 130> Fig. 6 is a detailed configuration diagram of the held body 130. Next, the detailed configuration of the held body 130 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. As described above, the held body 130 has the spacer 140 and the wick 150. The configurations of the spacer 140 and the wick 150 will be described below in order.

[0052] (Spacer 140) First, the spacer 140 will be described with reference to FIG. 6A. The spacer 140 is a frame body having a generally rectangular shape in a plan view. This spacer 140 supports the wick 150 that is placed on top of the spacer 140. More specifically, the spacer 140 presses the outer periphery of the plate surface of the spacer 140. The spacer 140 also has a spacer opening 312 that penetrates in the width direction. The spacer 140 also has a bridge portion 315 that is formed in the center of the spacer opening 312 in the front-to-rear direction and extends in the up-down direction. Due to the formation of this bridge portion 315, the spacer opening 312 is divided into a first spacer opening 316 and a second spacer opening 318.

[0053] Here, the bridge portion 315 presses down on the center portion of the wick 150 in the front-to-rear direction. In other words, the bridge portion 315 presses against the center portion of the wick 150 in the longitudinal direction. This allows the spacer 140 to more reliably seal the wick 150. The side of the bridge portion 315 opposite the wick 150 is supported by the bridge portion 225 of the liquid reservoir 220 (see FIG. 4). This allows the spacer 140 to more reliably seal the wick 150.

[0054] Furthermore, the bridge portion 315 is a support structure that internally supports the spacer 140. Therefore, for example, even if a crushing force is applied to the spacer 140 in the vertical direction, the bridge portion 315 suppresses deformation of the spacer 140. To explain further, the bridge portion 315 suppresses damage to the wick 150 even if a force that presses the spacer 140 and the wick 150 in the vertical direction is applied.

[0055] Spacer 140 has O-ring grooves 317, 319 on one side surface 321 and the other side surface 323. These O-ring grooves 317, 319 surround the outer peripheries of first spacer opening 316 and second spacer opening 318, respectively. O-rings S1, S2 are disposed in O-ring grooves 317, 319, respectively (see FIG. 7, which will be described later).

[0056] The spacer 140 is preferably made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the liquid-phase container 110 and the wick container 170.

[0057] (Wick 150) Next, the wick 150 will be described with reference to Figure 6 (B). The wick 150 is a plate-like member that is elongated in the front-rear direction and has a generally rectangular shape in a plan view. Although not particularly limited, the dimensions of the wick 150 are 30 mm to 900 mm in the front-rear direction, 10 mm to 100 mm in the up-down direction, and 2 mm to 40 mm in the width direction.

[0058] The wick 150 is formed of a porous body, such as a porous metal (porous metal) such as stainless steel or copper, although the material is not particularly limited. The wick 150 generates capillary force in the working fluid, thereby moving the working fluid. The effective pore diameter of the wick 150 is, for example, 0.1 to 20 μm. The porosity of the wick 150 is, for example, 25 to 70%. The method for measuring the effective pore diameter and porosity is not particularly limited. For example, the measurements may be performed by measuring the apparent density using the water impregnation method, measuring the pore size distribution using the mercury intrusion method, or observing the pores using X-ray CT.

[0059] Here, the wick 150 in this embodiment is formed with different structures on the central side and the outer periphery of the plate surface. More specifically, the pore diameters are different between the central portion 331, which is a substantially rectangular area on the central side of the wick 150, and the outer periphery 335, which is a rectangular area surrounding the periphery of the central portion 331. More specifically, the pore diameter in the central portion 331 is relatively large, and the pore diameter in the outer periphery 335 is relatively small. More specifically, the grain size in the outer periphery 335 is smaller than that in the central portion 331.

[0060] Here, by reducing the pore diameter of the outer peripheral portion 335, the flow resistance of the outer peripheral portion 335 becomes relatively large. Furthermore, by reducing the pore diameter of the outer peripheral portion 335, the strength of the outer peripheral portion 335 becomes relatively large. To explain further, the breaking strength of the outer peripheral portion 335 becomes relatively large. Furthermore, the toughness of the outer peripheral portion 335 becomes relatively large. Furthermore, the rigidity of the outer peripheral portion 335 becomes relatively large. As a result, damage to the wick 150 is suppressed even when it receives an external impact.

[0061] Although not particularly limited, for example, the effective pore diameter of the outer peripheral portion 335 is 0 to 10 μm, and the effective pore diameter of the central portion 331 is 0.2 to 20 μm. The porosity of the outer peripheral portion 335 is 0 to 50%, and the porosity of the central portion 331 is 20 to 80%. The porosity of the outer peripheral portion 335 may be 0%, i.e., the outer peripheral portion 335 may be made of a solid material.

[0062] (Arrangement of spacer 140 and wick 150) Next, the arrangement of the spacer 140 and wick 150 will be described with reference to FIG. 6(C). First, the spacer 140 and wick 150 are arranged one on top of the other. The outer periphery of the wick 150 is then held down by the spacer 140, which serves as a frame. Pressing the outer periphery of the wick 150 by the spacer 140 prevents the liquid-phase working fluid from leaking to the outside. Furthermore, by providing the bridge portion 315, the spacer 140 holds down the center of the plate surface in addition to the outer periphery of the wick 150. As a result, even if warping may occur in the wick 150, for example, the bridge portion 315 prevents deformation of the wick 150.

[0063] Here, the outer peripheral portion 335 of the wick 150 is located in the area of ​​the wick 150 that is pressed by the spacer 140. This outer peripheral portion 335 has a relatively small pore diameter and is strong compared to the central portion 331, which is the area of ​​the wick 150 that is not pressed by the spacer 140. Therefore, even if the wick 150 receives a large force from the spacer 140 due to an external impact, for example, the wick 150 is prevented from being damaged.

[0064] Furthermore, the outer periphery 335 of the wick 150 faces the O-ring groove 317. The small diameter of the hole in the outer periphery 335 that comes into contact with the O-ring S1 placed in this O-ring groove 317 increases the contact area with the O-ring S1, resulting in a more reliable seal.

[0065] The spacer opening 312 of the spacer 140 is positioned so as to overlap the central portion 331 of the wick 150. The first spacer opening 316 and the second spacer opening 318 of the spacer 140 are positioned so as to overlap the first liquid-side opening 226 and the second liquid-side opening 228 (see FIG. 4 ) of the liquid reservoir 220. This prevents the spacer 140 from interfering with the flow of the liquid-phase working fluid from the liquid reservoir 220 toward the wick 150.

[0066] The outer periphery of the wick 150 can be understood as a region of a predetermined width (e.g., 3 mm to 30 mm) from the outer edge of the plate surface of the wick 150. The outer periphery of the wick 150 can also be understood as a region surrounding the region through which the liquid-phase working fluid passes.

[0067] <Operation of Evaporator 101> FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along plane VII-VII in FIG. 2. Next, the operation of the evaporator 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the liquid-phase working fluid that flows into the compensator 210 from the liquid pipe 109 flows into the liquid-phase storage area 229 of the liquid reservoir 220 (arrow A11). The liquid-phase working fluid then passes through the spacer opening 312 of the spacer 140 and penetrates the wick 150 (see arrow A12). The liquid-phase working fluid then moves through the wick 150 due to the capillary force of the wick 150, where it is heated by the heat of the heating element 50 and vaporizes. This vaporized working fluid then flows along the vapor groove 293 (arrow A13). The vapor-phase working fluid then passes through the vapor-phase guide area 289 and flows out of the outlet 284 (see arrow A17). The outflowing gas phase working fluid is sent to the vapor pipe 107 .

[0068] Meanwhile, the working fluid flows from the vapor pipe 107 to the condenser 105 (see FIG. 1 ) and is liquefied in the condenser 105, and then flows into the evaporator 101 via the liquid pipe 109. The working fluid that flows into the evaporator 101 passes through the compensator 210 and again permeates the wick 150. In this way, the flow of the working fluid is not interrupted in the wick 150, and the above cycle is repeated. Then, the heat generated in the heating element 50 is transported from the evaporator 101 to the condenser 105.

[0069] <Arrangement of evaporator 101> Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the evaporator 101. Specifically, Fig. 8(A) is a schematic configuration diagram of the evaporator 101 as viewed from the front side in the front-rear direction. Fig. 8(B) is a schematic configuration diagram of the evaporator 101 as viewed from one side in the width direction.

[0070] Next, the arrangement of the evaporator 101 will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. First, as shown in Figure 8(A), in the evaporator 101, the compensator 210 and the evaporator body 310 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. To explain further, in the evaporator 101, the compensator 210 is located above the evaporator body 310, which is formed in a flat plate shape. By arranging the compensator 210 and the evaporator body 310 side by side in the vertical direction, the horizontal dimension of the evaporator 101 is reduced.

[0071] Furthermore, by arranging the plate surface of the approximately flat evaporator body 310 along the vertical direction, i.e., by arranging it vertically, the horizontal dimension is reduced. Furthermore, by arranging the evaporator body 310 vertically, the bottom area of ​​the liquid-phase accommodation region 229 formed inside the evaporator body 310 is reduced. By reducing the bottom area of ​​the liquid-phase accommodation region 229, the height (depth) of the liquid-phase working fluid accommodated in the liquid-phase accommodation region 229 is ensured even when the volume of the liquid-phase working fluid is small. Therefore, even when the volume of the liquid-phase working fluid is small, the liquid level of the liquid-phase working fluid is below the wick 150, preventing a decrease in thermal efficiency. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the length of the evaporator body 310 in the front-rear direction is relatively long. This allows the evaporator body 310 to be cooled by air flowing in the front-rear direction around the periphery of the evaporator body 310 as the automobile 1 travels.

[0072] Furthermore, by arranging the plate surface of the wick 150 along the vertical direction, even if the working fluid evaporates and generates bubbles on the surface of the wick 150 within the liquid phase accommodation region 229, the bubbles flow upward (rise) along the plate surface of the wick 150. In other words, by arranging the plate surface of the wick 150 along the vertical direction, it is possible to promote the separation of the bubbles from the surface of the wick 150. This prevents a decrease in thermal efficiency due to bubbles adhering to the surface of the wick 150.

[0073] Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 8A , the distance from the heating element 50 to the compensator 210 is relatively large. More specifically, the compensator 210 is disposed at a position horizontally offset from above the heating element 50. Specifically, the heating element 50 and the compensator 210 are disposed offset in the width direction (offset arrangement, see distance D1 in the figure). Furthermore, the curved outer peripheral surface of the compensator 210 promotes air flow along the outer peripheral surface of the compensator 210. Accordingly, air heated by the heating element 50 is prevented from accumulating around the periphery of the compensator 210. These factors prevent the temperature of the compensator 210 from increasing due to heat generated by the heating element 50. Unlike the illustrated example, even in a configuration in which the compensator 210 is disposed directly above the heating element 50, the curved outer peripheral surface of the compensator 210 can prevent air heated by the heating element 50 from accumulating around the periphery of the compensator 210.

[0074] 8A, the compensator 210 protrudes further in the width direction than the surface of the evaporator body 310 on the other side in the width direction, i.e., the liquid-side cover 223 (see distance D5 in the figure). The compensator 210 protrudes on the side opposite the heating element 50, allowing the compensator 210 to be cooled by air. For example, the compensator 210 is cooled by air flowing from the bottom to the top in the vertical direction.

[0075] 8B , the length L4 of the heating element 50 in the front-to-rear direction is longer than the length L3 of the compensator 210. This prevents the compensator 210 from being heated by the heating element 50.

[0076] Furthermore, length L1, which is the horizontal length of the evaporator body 310, is longer than length L3 of the compensator 210. Furthermore, length L5, which is the horizontal length of the liquid phase accommodating region 229 formed inside the evaporator body 310, is longer than length L3 of the compensator 210. Furthermore, the horizontal length L5 of the liquid phase accommodating region 229 is longer than length L7 of the liquid phase accommodating region 229 in the up-down direction. This ensures the volume of the space that accommodates the liquid phase working fluid while suppressing the width dimension of the liquid phase accommodating region 229, i.e., the thickness of the evaporator body 310.

[0077] The dimensions of each component of the evaporator 101 are not particularly limited, but may be as follows: As shown in Fig. 7, the height H1 of the evaporator 101 is 50 mm to 500 mm, and the height H2 of the evaporator body 310 is 20 mm to 300 mm. The width W1 of the evaporator body 310 is 10 mm to 100 mm, the width W2 of the wick housing 170 is 5 mm to 50 mm, and the outer diameter W3 of the compensator 210 is 20 mm to 200 mm.

[0078] Also, as shown in Figure 8 (B), the length L1 of the evaporator 101 (evaporator main body 310) is 50 mm to 1000 mm, the length L3 of the compensator 210 is 30 mm to 800 mm, the length L4 of the heating element 50 is 40 mm to 900 mm, and the length L5 of the liquid phase storage area 229 is 50 mm to 1000 mm.

[0079] Although not described above, the heating element 50 in the illustrated example is configured by arranging a plurality of semiconductor elements 501, which are SiC semiconductors. More specifically, the heating element 50 in the illustrated example has the semiconductor elements 501 arranged in two rows. Note that the shape of the semiconductor elements 501 in the illustrated example is schematic, and the shape is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the number of semiconductor elements 501 that constitute the heating element 50 is not particularly limited.

[0080] <Modifications> The following describes modifications of the evaporator 101. In the following description, the same components as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof may be omitted.

[0081] (Variations of the Wick 150) In the above description, the wick 150 is described as being a metallic porous body, but this is not limiting. That is, the wick 150 may be made of any material as long as it has a large number of pores, i.e., voids, formed therein. The wick 150 may be formed, for example, of a resin porous body such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a ceramic porous body, a glass porous body, or porous fiber. Note that using a material with low thermal conductivity for the wick 150 can reduce heat leakage in the evaporator 101. Furthermore, to further reduce heat leakage, it is generally preferable to use a non-metallic material with a thermal conductivity lower than that of metal.

[0082] Here, the method for forming the wick 150 is not particularly limited. For example, the wick 150 may be formed by arranging a metal powder (powder) such as copper into a predetermined shape and sintering it. Alternatively, the wick 150 may be formed by arranging a metal paste containing the metal powder into a predetermined shape and sintering it. Alternatively, the wick 150 may be formed by etching a plate-shaped member and providing a large number of pores therein. Alternatively, the wick 150 may be formed using an additive manufacturing device, a so-called 3D printer.

[0083] 9 is a diagram illustrating a first modified example. In the above explanation, it has been explained that the pore diameters are different between the central portion 331 and the outer peripheral portion 335 of the wick 150. Here, when forming the wick 150 by arranging metal powder in a predetermined shape and sintering it, the wick 150 may be formed, for example, by the following process, although this is not particularly limited.

[0084] As shown in Fig. 9 (A-1), metal powders having different particle sizes may be used in the central portion 1331 and the peripheral portion 1335. Specifically, different materials are arranged in a predetermined shape for the central portion 1331 and the peripheral portion 1335. Then, as shown in Fig. 9 (A-2), a wick 1150 may be formed in which the central portion 1331 and the peripheral portion 1335 of the wick 150 have different pore diameters by performing a sintering process.

[0085] 9(B-1), the same metal powder may be used for the central portion 2331 and the outer periphery 2335. Then, the central portion 2331 and the outer periphery 2335 may be subjected to different treatments to have different pore diameters.

[0086] For example, as shown in FIG. 9 (B-1), the same material is disposed at different thicknesses in the central portion 2331 and the outer periphery 2335. In the illustrated example, the metal powder is formed thicker in the outer periphery 2335 than in the central portion 2331. Then, by compressing only the outer periphery 2335 by pressing (see pressure F1), the thicknesses of the central portion 2331 and the outer periphery 2335 are made uniform. Then, as shown in FIG. 9 (B-2), a sintering process is performed to form a wick 2150 having a uniform thickness and a smaller pore diameter in the outer periphery 2335.

[0087] 9(C-1), the same metal powder may be used and arranged to the same thickness. Then, by compressing only the outer periphery (see pressure F2), the thickness of the outer periphery 3335 is made thinner than the central portion 3331. Then, as shown in FIG. 9(C-2), a sintering process is performed to form a wick 3150 in which the outer periphery 3335 is relatively thin and the pore diameter of the outer periphery 3335 is smaller.

[0088] 9B and 9C, only the outer peripheral portion 3335 is pressed, but this is not limiting. For example, both the central portion 2331 and the outer peripheral portion 2335 may be pressed. More specifically, the outer peripheral portion 3335 may be pressed with a higher pressure than the central portion 2331.

[0089] 9(B) and 9(C) , the wick 2150 and the like are formed by arranging metal powder in a predetermined shape, pressing a portion of the powder, and then sintering the powder. However, this is not limiting. For example, the metal powder may be arranged in a predetermined shape, sintered, and then partially pressed. To further explain, as shown in FIG. 9(B-1), the same material may be arranged in the central portion 2331 and the peripheral portion 2335 at different thicknesses, sintered, and then compressed to make the thicknesses of the central portion 2331 and the peripheral portion 2335 uniform. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9(C-1), the same material may be arranged in the same thickness and sintered, and then the peripheral portion 3335 may be thinner than the central portion 3331. The process of pressing a portion of the metal powder after sintering can be considered a process for increasing the strength (rigidity) of a portion of the porous body.

[0090] In the above description, the toughness is made different by changing the pore diameter between the central portion 2331 and the outer periphery 2335, but this is not limiting. For example, the toughness may be made different by switching the materials between the central portion 2331 and the outer periphery 2335. Furthermore, the toughness may be made different by switching the forming process between the central portion 2331 and the outer periphery 2335, for example by applying heat treatment only to the outer periphery 2335.

[0091] 10 is a diagram illustrating a second modified example. In the above description, the central portion 331 of the wick 150 and the peripheral portion 335 surrounding the central portion 331 have different pore diameters, but the configuration of the wick 150 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, the entire wick 4150 may be formed of a common material (e.g., pores of a common size).

[0092] 10(B), in a configuration in which the wick 5150 includes a central portion 5331 and an outer peripheral portion 5335, a bridge portion 5333 may be provided in the central portion in the front-to-rear direction. This bridge portion 5333 is formed of the same material as the outer peripheral portion 5335. In other words, the bridge portion 5333 is formed of a material different from that of the central portion 5331. This bridge portion 5333 is positioned at a position where it is pressed by the bridge portion 315 of the spacer 140 (see FIG. 6(B)). Furthermore, because the pore diameter of the bridge portion 5333 is relatively small, damage to the wick 5150 is suppressed.

[0093] 10(C), in a configuration in which the wick 6150 has a central portion 6331 and an outer peripheral portion 6335, crossing bridge portions 6333 and 6334 may be provided. These bridge portions 6333 and 6334 are formed with relatively small pore diameters, like the bridge portion 5333, thereby preventing the wick 6150 from being damaged.

[0094] In the above description, the vapor guide protrusions 287 extending in the vertical direction are formed on the wick-side cover 273 of the wick accommodating body 170, but this is not limiting. It is sufficient that a flow path for the gas-phase working fluid is formed in the region where the wick-side cover 273 and the wick 150 come into contact. For example, instead of or in addition to the vapor guide protrusions 287 of the wick-side cover 273, a protrusion or groove extending in the vertical direction may be formed on the surface of the wick 150 facing the wick-side cover 273.

[0095] In the above description, the O-ring groove 317 (see FIG. 6A) in which the O-ring S1 is disposed is provided in the spacer 140, but this is not limiting. For example, the wick 150 may be configured to include the O-ring groove 317.

[0096] (Modification of Spacer 140) Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating a third modification. In the above description, the spacer 140 includes the bridge portion 315, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 11 (A-1), the spacer 1140 may not include the bridge portion 315. Note that the illustrated spacer 1140 has an O-ring groove 1317 along the outer periphery of the spacer 1140.

[0097] 11(A-2), the spacer 2140 may include bridging portions 2315 and 2316 that intersect with each other. This spacer 2140 has four spacer through-holes 2312 formed therein. Note that the illustrated spacer 2140 has an O-ring groove 2317 formed along the outer periphery of the spacer 2140. Additionally, unlike the illustrated example, multiple (four) O-ring grooves 2317 may be formed at positions surrounding each of the spacer through-holes 2312.

[0098] 11B , the spacer 2140 may also be configured with a taper 3313. This taper 3313 is formed in a region facing the spacer through-hole 2312. The taper 3313 is inclined upward in the vertical direction as it extends toward the other widthwise side. By forming this taper 3313, even if the working fluid evaporates and bubbles are generated on the surface 159 of the wick 150 facing the spacer through-hole 2312, the bubbles are guided by the upper taper 3313 and discharged from the spacer through-hole 2312 (see arrow D1). This prevents the bubbles generated on the surface 159 of the wick 150 from accumulating above the spacer through-hole 2312 and reducing the heat exchange rate of the wick 150.

[0099] Although not shown in the drawings, unlike the above embodiment, the spacer 140 may not be provided as long as the wick 150 is supported by the liquid phase container 110 and the wick container 170.

[0100] (Other Modifications) In the above description, the liquid-phase container 110 is described as being cylindrical, but this is not limiting. For example, the shape of the liquid-phase container 110 may be other shapes, such as a rectangular parallelepiped or a cube. Furthermore, as long as the liquid-phase working fluid is stably supplied to the wick 150, the liquid-phase container 110 may not be provided.

[0101] In the above description, the central axis of the liquid-phase container 110 and the plate surface of the wick 150 are aligned in the front-to-rear direction, but this is not limiting. For example, the central axis of the liquid-phase container 110 and the plate surface of the wick 150 may be configured to be perpendicular to each other.

[0102] In the above description, the condenser 105 is described as having fins 701. Here, the cooling by the fins 701 may be natural cooling or forced cooling. More specifically, the condenser 105 may be configured to have a blower fan, and the fins 701 may be cooled by the airflow generated by the blower fan.

[0103] In the above description, the wick 150 is plate-shaped, and the spacer 140 presses against the outer periphery of the wick 150. Here, the spacer 140 is not limited to the above configuration, as long as it is configured to press against the side surface of the wick 150 in a space that contains a liquid-phase working fluid. For example, the spacer 140 may press against multiple locations spaced apart from each other on the outer periphery of the side surface of the wick 150. Furthermore, the spacer 140 may press against one or more locations, including the center of the plate surface, on the side surface of the wick 150. Furthermore, the spacer 140 may press against the center of the wick 150 in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the shape of the wick 150 is not limited to a plate-like shape. For example, the wick 150 may be a block-like (rectangular) shape with a large thickness, or may be another shape such as a cylindrical or spherical shape.

[0104] In the above description, the loop heat pipe 10 is described as cooling the heat generating element 50, which is a semiconductor, installed in an automobile 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the loop heat pipe 10 may be installed in a moving object other than an automobile. More specifically, the loop heat pipe 10 may be installed in a ship, a train, a motorcycle, a bicycle, a drone, or the like. The loop heat pipe 10 may also be installed in a device other than a moving object, such as a computer device such as a server or a personal computer, or a battery such as a solar cell or a fuel cell for home use.

[0105] The technology disclosed in this specification is a heat exchanger that has an evaporator provided with an evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, as described above, and condenses the gas-phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, wherein the interior of the evaporator is partitioned by the evaporator and has a liquid-phase storage chamber that is provided on one side as viewed from the evaporator and stores the liquid-phase working fluid, and a gas-phase storage chamber that is provided on the opposite side of the evaporator from the liquid-phase storage chamber and stores the gas-phase working fluid, the evaporator is provided with a pressing body that is provided on the liquid-phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator and presses the side of the evaporator that faces the liquid-phase storage chamber, and the evaporator has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing body and has higher toughness than a portion that is not pressed by the pressing body.

[0106] Here, the evaporator may be flat and the pressing body may press the outer periphery of the plate surface of the evaporator. The plate surface of the evaporator may be elongated in one direction, and the pressing body may have an outer periphery frame portion pressing the outer periphery of the evaporator, and a central pressing portion extending in a direction intersecting the one direction, connecting the central side of the outer periphery frame portion in the one direction, and pressing the plate surface of the evaporator. The evaporator may have a liquid-phase container forming the liquid-phase container therein, and the liquid-phase container may have a support portion supporting the central pressing portion of the pressing body. The pressing body may have a plurality of openings formed on either side of the central pressing portion through which the liquid-phase working fluid flows toward the evaporator, and a plurality of sealants may be provided at positions surrounding each of the openings on the plate surface of the evaporator. The pressing body may have an opening formed through which the liquid-phase working fluid flows toward the evaporator, and a sealant may be provided at a position surrounding the opening on the side surface of the evaporator. The evaporator may have a liquid-phase container that defines the liquid-phase container chamber therein, and the pressing body may have a lower thermal conductivity than the liquid-phase container. The pressing body may have an opening formed therein toward the evaporator through which the liquid-phase working fluid flows, and may have a surface facing the opening above the opening that is inclined upward as it moves away from the side surface of the evaporator. The pressed portion of the evaporator may have a smaller pore diameter than a portion not pressed by the pressing body.

[0107] From another perspective, the technology disclosed in this specification is a heat exchanger that includes an evaporator provided with an evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and condenses the gas-phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, the interior of the evaporator being partitioned by the evaporator and including a liquid-phase storage chamber that is provided on one side of the evaporator and stores the liquid-phase working fluid, and a gas-phase storage chamber that is provided on the opposite side of the evaporator from the liquid-phase storage chamber and stores the gas-phase working fluid, the evaporator is provided with a pressing body that is provided on the liquid-phase storage chamber side of the evaporator and presses the side of the evaporator that faces the liquid-phase storage chamber, and the evaporator has a high-strength portion that is pressed by the pressing body and has higher strength than a portion that is not pressed by the pressing body.

[0108] From another perspective, the technology disclosed in this specification is a heat exchanger having an evaporator provided with a flat plate-like evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and condenses the gas-phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, the interior of the evaporator being partitioned by the flat plate-like evaporator, and having a liquid-phase storage chamber that is provided on one side of the evaporator and stores the liquid-phase working fluid, and a gas-phase working fluid storage chamber that is provided on the opposite side of the evaporator to the liquid-phase storage chamber, and a gas phase storage chamber that stores a moving fluid, the evaporator is provided on the liquid phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator, and is equipped with a pressing body that presses the outer periphery of the plate surface of the evaporator facing the liquid phase storage chamber, the plate surface of the evaporator is long in the horizontal direction, the outer periphery of the plate surface of the evaporator has a smaller pore diameter than the central side of the plate surface, and the pressing body has an outer periphery frame portion that presses the outer periphery of the evaporator, and a central pressing portion that extends in the vertical direction, connects the horizontal central side of the outer periphery frame portion, and presses the plate surface of the evaporator.

[0109] From another perspective, the technology disclosed in this specification is an evaporator that includes an evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and that discharges the gas-phase working fluid evaporated by the evaporator, and the discharged gas-phase working fluid condenses and circulates, the interior of the evaporator is partitioned by the evaporator, and includes a liquid-phase storage chamber that is located on one side of the evaporator and stores the liquid-phase working fluid, and a gas-phase storage chamber that is located on the opposite side of the evaporator from the liquid-phase storage chamber and stores the gas-phase working fluid, and includes a pressing body that is located on the liquid-phase storage chamber side of the evaporator and presses the side of the evaporator that faces the liquid-phase storage chamber, and the evaporator has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing body and has higher toughness than a portion that is not pressed by the pressing body.

[0110] From another perspective, the technology disclosed in this specification is an apparatus including a heating element, an evaporator provided with an evaporator that absorbs heat from the heating element and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and a heat exchanger that condenses the gas-phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, wherein the interior of the evaporator is partitioned by the evaporator and has a liquid-phase storage chamber that is provided on one side of the evaporator and stores the liquid-phase working fluid, and a gas-phase storage chamber that is provided on the opposite side of the evaporator from the liquid-phase storage chamber and stores the gas-phase working fluid, the evaporator is provided with a pressing body that is provided on the liquid-phase storage chamber side of the evaporator and presses the side of the evaporator that faces the liquid-phase storage chamber, and the evaporator has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing body and has higher toughness than a portion that is not pressed by the pressing body.

[0111] From another viewpoint, the technology disclosed in this specification is a moving body that moves by receiving drive from the driving source, the moving body including a drive source, a heating element that controls the drive source, an evaporator provided with an evaporator that absorbs heat from the heating element and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving the working fluid by capillary force, and a heat exchanger that condenses the gas-phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator and returns the condensed gas-phase working fluid to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, the moving body being driven by the drive source, the evaporator having an interior that is partitioned by the evaporator, and a liquid-phase storage chamber that is provided on one side of the evaporator and stores the liquid-phase working fluid, and a heat exchanger that sandwiches the evaporator and a gas phase storage chamber that is provided on the opposite side of the liquid phase storage chamber and stores a gas phase working fluid, the evaporator is provided on the liquid phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator and is equipped with a pressing body that presses the side of the evaporator that faces the liquid phase storage chamber, the evaporator has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing body and has higher toughness than a portion that is not pressed by the pressing body, the evaporator has a housing that is divided inside by the evaporator and in which the liquid phase storage chamber and the gas phase storage chamber are provided, and the housing is a moving body that is arranged with its longitudinal direction horizontal and along the traveling direction of the moving body.

[0112] In recent years, the development of electric vehicles has progressed as one of the environmental conservation measures. Along with the development of electric vehicles, the performance of semiconductors that control the motors of electric vehicles has improved. Since the improvement in semiconductor performance leads to an increase in the amount of heat generated by the semiconductors, there is a demand for heat exchangers and the like that can efficiently remove the heat flux from the semiconductors. Meanwhile, the interior of an automobile body is a limited space, so it is desirable to reduce the dimensions of heat exchangers and the like that cool semiconductors. Therefore, the technology disclosed in this specification can also be understood as having the objective of manufacturing heat exchangers and the like with reduced dimensions.

[0113] With this objective in mind, the technology disclosed in this specification can be understood as follows: That is, the technology disclosed in this specification is a heat exchanger that has an evaporator provided with a flat plate-shaped evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and that condenses the gas-phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, the evaporator including a liquid reservoir that collects the liquid-phase working fluid, a liquid-phase container that is provided below the liquid reservoir in the vertical direction and contains the liquid-phase working fluid that flows down from the liquid reservoir, the evaporator that is arranged with its plate surface oriented along the vertical direction and evaporates the liquid-phase working fluid contained in the liquid-phase container, and a gas-phase container that is provided on the opposite side of the evaporator from the liquid-phase container and contains the gas-phase working fluid.

[0114] The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the liquid-phase container includes a liquid-phase container chamber that contains the liquid-phase working fluid, and the liquid-phase container chamber is longer in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction. The liquid-phase container may include a first section located below the liquid reservoir and a second section located below the first section, and the first section may have a shorter horizontal dimension than the second section. The liquid reservoir may also have a shorter horizontal dimension than the second section. The heat exchanger may further include a pressing body that is provided on the liquid-phase container chamber side as viewed from the evaporator and presses the outer periphery of a plate surface of the evaporator facing the liquid-phase container chamber. The plate surface of the evaporator may be elongated in one direction, and the pressing body may include an outer peripheral frame portion that presses the outer periphery of the evaporator, and a central pressing portion that extends in a direction intersecting the one direction, connects the central side of the outer peripheral frame portion in the one direction, and presses the plate surface of the evaporator. The gas phase container may have a heat-receiving surface provided with an external heating element and configured to receive heat from the heating element, and the liquid reservoir may be positioned above the heating element in the vertical direction and offset from the heating element in the horizontal direction. The liquid reservoir may protrude horizontally from the liquid phase container toward the opposite side from the heating element. The liquid reservoir may have a cylindrical shape with an axial direction extending horizontally. The liquid phase container and the gas phase container may form a flat housing with a plate-like surface aligned vertically.

[0115] From another perspective, the technology disclosed in this specification is a heat exchanger having an evaporator provided with a flat plate-shaped evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and condenses the gas-phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, wherein the evaporator has a cylindrical shape with an axial direction extending horizontally, and includes a liquid reservoir that stores the liquid-phase working fluid, and a liquid-phase working fluid evaporator that is provided vertically below the liquid reservoir and condenses the liquid-phase working fluid flowing down from the liquid reservoir. A heat exchanger comprising: a liquid-phase container for containing a fluid; an evaporator whose plate surface is oriented in a vertical direction and evaporates the liquid-phase working fluid contained in the liquid-phase container; and a gas-phase container which is located on the opposite side of the liquid-phase container across the evaporator and contains a gas-phase working fluid; the liquid-phase container and the gas-phase container form a flat housing whose plate surfaces are oriented in a vertical direction; the liquid-phase container has a liquid-phase container chamber that contains the liquid-phase working fluid; and the liquid-phase container chamber is longer in the horizontal direction than the liquid reservoir.

[0116] From another perspective, the technology disclosed in this specification is an evaporator that includes a flat plate-shaped evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and that discharges the gas-phase working fluid evaporated by the evaporator, and the discharged gas-phase working fluid condenses and circulates, the evaporator including: a liquid reservoir that collects the liquid-phase working fluid; a liquid-phase container that is provided vertically below the liquid reservoir and that contains the liquid-phase working fluid that flows down from the liquid reservoir; the evaporator that is arranged with its plate surface oriented vertically and that evaporates the liquid-phase working fluid contained in the liquid-phase container; and a gas-phase container that is provided on the opposite side of the liquid-phase container across the evaporator and that contains the gas-phase working fluid.

[0117] From another perspective, the technology disclosed in this specification is an apparatus comprising: a heating element; an evaporator provided with a flat plate-shaped evaporator that absorbs heat from the heating element and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force; and a heat exchanger that condenses the gas-phase working fluid guided from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, wherein the evaporator comprises a liquid reservoir that collects the liquid-phase working fluid; a liquid-phase container that is provided vertically below the liquid reservoir and contains the liquid-phase working fluid that flows down from the liquid reservoir; the evaporator that is arranged with its plate surface oriented vertically and evaporates the liquid-phase working fluid contained in the liquid-phase container; and a gas-phase container that is provided on the opposite side of the liquid-phase container across the evaporator and contains the gas-phase working fluid.

[0118] From another viewpoint, the technology disclosed in this specification is a moving body that moves by receiving drive from the driving source, the moving body comprising: a driving source; a heating element that controls the driving source; an evaporator provided with a flat plate-shaped evaporator that absorbs heat from the heating element and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, the evaporator condensing the gas-phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator and circulating the condensed gas-phase working fluid back to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid; and a heat exchanger that condenses the gas-phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator and circulates the condensed gas-phase working fluid back to the evaporator. The movable body comprises a liquid-phase container arranged vertically below a reservoir and containing liquid-phase working fluid flowing down from the reservoir; an evaporator arranged with its plate surface oriented vertically to evaporate the liquid-phase working fluid contained in the liquid-phase container; and a gas-phase container arranged on the opposite side of the liquid-phase container across the evaporator and containing gas-phase working fluid, wherein the liquid-phase container and the gas-phase container form a flat housing with its plate surface aligned vertically, and the axial direction of the liquid reservoir and the plate surface of the housing are arranged along the direction of travel of the movable body.

[0119] While various embodiments and modifications have been described above, these embodiments and modifications may of course be combined together to form a configuration. Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0120] The loop heat pipe 10 is an example of a heat exchanger. The automobile 1 is an example of a device and a mobile object. The wick 150 is an example of an evaporator. The liquid phase accommodation region 229 is an example of a liquid phase accommodation chamber. The gas phase guide region 289 is an example of a gas phase accommodation chamber. The spacer 140 is an example of a pressing body and an outer peripheral frame portion. The outer peripheral portion 335 is an example of a pressed portion and a high-strength portion. The bridging portion 315 is an example of a central pressing portion. The liquid reservoir portion 220 is an example of a liquid phase accommodation body. The bridging portion 225 is an example of a support portion. The taper 3313 is an example of an inclined surface. The motor 30 is an example of a drive source. The compensator 210 is an example of a liquid reservoir body. The narrow frame portion 238 is an example of a first portion. The wide frame portion 237 is an example of a second portion.

[0121] 1... automobile, 50... heating element, 10... loop type heat pipe, 101... evaporator, 110... liquid phase container, 130... container, 140... spacer, 150... wick

Claims

1. A heat exchanger having an evaporator provided with an evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and condenses the gas-phase working fluid guided from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, wherein the interior of the evaporator is partitioned by the evaporator and has a liquid-phase storage chamber provided on one side as viewed from the evaporator and storing a liquid-phase working fluid, and a gas-phase storage chamber provided on the opposite side of the evaporator to the liquid-phase storage chamber and storing a gas-phase working fluid, the evaporator has a pressing body provided on the liquid-phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator and pressing the side of the evaporator facing the liquid-phase storage chamber, and the evaporator has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing body and has higher toughness than a portion that is not pressed by the pressing body.

2. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the evaporator is flat, and the pressing body presses the outer periphery of the plate surface of the evaporator.

3. A heat exchanger as described in claim 2, wherein the evaporator has a plate surface that is long in one direction, and the pressing body has an outer peripheral frame portion that presses the outer periphery of the evaporator, and a central pressing portion that extends in a direction intersecting the one direction, connects the central side of the outer peripheral frame portion in the one direction, and presses the plate surface of the evaporator.

4. A heat exchanger as described in claim 3, wherein the evaporator has a liquid phase container that forms the liquid phase container therein, and the liquid phase container has a support portion that supports the central pressing portion of the pressing body.

5. A heat exchanger as described in claim 3 or 4, wherein the pressing body has a plurality of openings formed on either side of the central pressing portion through which the liquid-phase working fluid flows toward the evaporator, and wherein a plurality of sealing materials are provided at positions surrounding each of the openings on the plate surface of the evaporator.

6. A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing body has an opening through which the liquid phase working fluid flows toward the evaporator, and a sealant is provided at a position surrounding the opening on the side surface of the evaporator.

7. A heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the evaporator has a liquid-phase container that defines the liquid-phase container therein, and the pressing body has a thermal conductivity lower than that of the liquid-phase container.

8. A heat exchanger as described in claim 1, wherein the pressing body has an opening through which a liquid-phase working fluid flows toward the evaporator, and a surface facing the opening above the opening, the surface having an inclined surface that slopes upward as it moves away from the side surface of the evaporator.

9. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the pressed portion of the evaporator has a smaller pore diameter than the portion not pressed by the pressing body.

10. A heat exchanger having an evaporator provided with an evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and condenses the gas phase working fluid guided from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid phase working fluid, wherein the interior of the evaporator is partitioned by the evaporator and has a liquid phase storage chamber provided on one side as viewed from the evaporator and storing a liquid phase working fluid, and a gas phase storage chamber provided on the opposite side of the evaporator to the liquid phase storage chamber and storing a gas phase working fluid, the evaporator has a pressing body provided on the liquid phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator and pressing the side of the evaporator facing the liquid phase storage chamber, and the evaporator has a high-strength portion that is pressed by the pressing body and has higher strength than a portion that is not pressed by the pressing body.

11. A heat exchanger having an evaporator provided with a flat plate-shaped evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and condenses the gas-phase working fluid guided from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, wherein the inside of the evaporator is partitioned by the flat plate-shaped evaporator and has a liquid-phase storage chamber provided on one side as viewed from the evaporator and storing a liquid-phase working fluid, and a gas-phase storage chamber provided on the opposite side of the evaporator to the liquid-phase storage chamber and storing a gas-phase working fluid, the evaporator is provided on the liquid-phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator and has a pressing body that presses the outer periphery of the plate surface of the evaporator on the liquid-phase storage chamber side, the plate surface of the evaporator is long in the horizontal direction, the outer periphery of the plate surface of the evaporator has a smaller pore diameter than the center side of the plate surface, the pressing body has an outer peripheral frame portion pressing the outer periphery of the evaporator, and a central pressing portion extending in the vertical direction, connecting horizontal central sides of the outer peripheral frame portion, and pressing the plate surface of the evaporator.

12. An evaporator comprising an evaporator which absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, the gas phase working fluid evaporated by the evaporator being discharged and the discharged gas phase working fluid being condensed and circulating, the interior of the evaporator being partitioned by the evaporator and comprising a liquid phase storage chamber provided on one side as viewed from the evaporator and storing a liquid phase working fluid, and a gas phase storage chamber provided on the opposite side of the evaporator to the liquid phase storage chamber and storing a gas phase working fluid, the evaporator comprising a pressing body provided on the liquid phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator and pressing a side of the evaporator facing the liquid phase storage chamber, the evaporator having a pressed portion which is pressed by the pressing body and has higher toughness than a portion not pressed by the pressing body.

13. An apparatus comprising: a heating element; and an evaporator provided with an evaporator that absorbs heat from the heating element and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and a heat exchanger that condenses the gas-phase working fluid guided from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, wherein the interior of the evaporator is partitioned by the evaporator and has a liquid-phase storage chamber provided on one side as viewed from the evaporator and storing a liquid-phase working fluid, and a gas-phase storage chamber provided on the opposite side of the evaporator to the liquid-phase storage chamber and storing a gas-phase working fluid, the evaporator is provided on the liquid-phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator, and has a pressing body that is provided on the liquid-phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator and presses a side of the evaporator facing the liquid-phase storage chamber, and the evaporator has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing body and has higher toughness than a portion not pressed by the pressing body.

14. A moving body that moves when driven by the driving source, comprising: a driving source; a heating element that controls the driving source; an evaporator provided with an evaporator that absorbs heat from the heating element and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and a heat exchanger that condenses the gas-phase working fluid guided from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, wherein the evaporator has an interior that is partitioned by the evaporator and has a liquid-phase storage chamber that is provided on one side as viewed from the evaporator and stores a liquid-phase working fluid, and a gas-phase storage chamber that is provided on the opposite side of the evaporator to the liquid-phase storage chamber and stores a gas-phase working fluid, the evaporator is provided on the liquid-phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator, and has a pressing body that is provided on the liquid-phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator and presses a side surface of the evaporator facing the liquid-phase storage chamber, the evaporator has a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing body and has higher toughness than a portion that is not pressed by the pressing body, The evaporator has a housing whose interior is divided by the evaporator and in which the liquid phase storage chamber and the gas phase storage chamber are provided, and the housing is arranged with a longitudinal direction horizontal and along a traveling direction of the moving body.

15. A heat exchanger having an evaporator provided with a flat plate-shaped evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and condenses the gas phase working fluid guided from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid phase working fluid, wherein the evaporator comprises: a liquid reservoir for storing the liquid phase working fluid; a liquid phase container provided vertically below the liquid reservoir for storing the liquid phase working fluid flowing down from the liquid reservoir; the evaporator with its plate surface oriented vertically and evaporating the liquid phase working fluid contained in the liquid phase container; and a gas phase container provided on the opposite side of the liquid phase container across the evaporator for storing the gas phase working fluid.

16. A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 15, wherein the liquid phase container comprises a liquid phase storage chamber for storing the liquid phase working fluid, and the liquid phase storage chamber is longer in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction.

17. A heat exchanger as described in claim 16, wherein the liquid phase storage chamber has a first portion located below the liquid reservoir and a second portion located below the first portion, and the first portion has a shorter horizontal dimension than the second portion.

18. A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 17, wherein said reservoir has a horizontal dimension less than said second portion.

19. A heat exchanger according to claim 15, further comprising a pressing body provided on the liquid phase storage chamber side as viewed from the evaporator, for pressing an outer periphery of a plate surface of the evaporator facing the liquid phase storage chamber.

20. A heat exchanger as described in claim 19, wherein the evaporator has a plate surface that is long in one direction, and the pressing body has an outer peripheral frame portion that presses the outer periphery of the evaporator, and a central pressing portion that extends in a direction intersecting the one direction, connects the central side of the outer peripheral frame portion in the one direction, and presses the plate surface of the evaporator.

21. A heat exchanger as described in claim 15, wherein the gas phase container has a heat receiving surface on which an external heating element is provided and which receives heat from the heating element, and the liquid reservoir is positioned above the heating element in the vertical direction and offset from the heating element in the horizontal direction.

22. A heat exchanger according to claim 21, wherein said liquid reservoir protrudes horizontally beyond said liquid phase container in a direction opposite to said heating element.

23. A heat exchanger according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the liquid reservoir is cylindrical in shape with its axial direction extending horizontally.

24. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 23, wherein the liquid phase container and the gas phase container form a flat housing whose plate surfaces extend in the vertical direction.

25. A heat exchanger having an evaporator provided with a flat plate-shaped evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and condenses the gas-phase working fluid guided from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, wherein the evaporator is cylindrical in shape with an axial direction extending horizontally and comprises: a liquid reservoir for storing the liquid-phase working fluid; a liquid phase container provided below the liquid reservoir in the vertical direction and for storing the liquid-phase working fluid flowing down from the liquid reservoir; the evaporator is disposed with its plate surface oriented in the vertical direction and evaporates the liquid-phase working fluid contained in the liquid phase container; and a gas phase container is provided on the opposite side of the evaporator to the liquid phase container and for storing the gas-phase working fluid, wherein the liquid phase container and the gas phase container form a flat plate-shaped housing whose plate surfaces extend in the vertical direction, and the liquid phase container has a liquid phase container chamber for storing the liquid phase working fluid, A heat exchanger, wherein the liquid phase accommodating chamber is longer than the liquid reservoir in a horizontal direction.

26. An evaporator comprising a flat plate-shaped evaporator that absorbs heat from the outside and evaporates a liquid phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and which discharges the gas phase working fluid evaporated by the evaporator and condenses and circulates, the evaporator comprising: a liquid reservoir for storing the liquid phase working fluid; a liquid phase container provided vertically below the liquid reservoir for storing the liquid phase working fluid flowing down from the liquid reservoir; the evaporator with its plate surface oriented vertically and evaporating the liquid phase working fluid contained in the liquid phase container; and a gas phase container provided on the opposite side of the liquid phase container across the evaporator for storing the gas phase working fluid.

27. An apparatus comprising: a heating element; an evaporator provided with a flat evaporator that absorbs heat from the heating element and evaporates a liquid phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and a heat exchanger that condenses the gas phase working fluid guided from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid phase working fluid, wherein the evaporator comprises: a liquid reservoir for storing the liquid phase working fluid; a liquid phase container provided vertically below the liquid reservoir for storing the liquid phase working fluid flowing down from the liquid reservoir; the evaporator arranged with its plate surface oriented vertically and evaporating the liquid phase working fluid contained in the liquid phase container; and a gas phase container provided on the opposite side of the liquid phase container across the evaporator for storing the gas phase working fluid.

28. A moving body comprising: a driving source; a heating element for controlling the driving source; and an evaporator provided with a flat plate-shaped evaporator that absorbs heat from the heating element and evaporates a liquid-phase working fluid into a gas phase while moving it by capillary force, and a heat exchanger that condenses the gas-phase working fluid guided from the evaporator and returns it to the evaporator as a liquid-phase working fluid, the moving body being driven by the driving source and moving, the evaporator comprising: a liquid reservoir having a cylindrical shape with an axial direction extending horizontally, for storing the liquid-phase working fluid; a liquid phase container provided below the liquid reservoir in the vertical direction and for storing the liquid-phase working fluid flowing down from the liquid reservoir; the evaporator having a plate surface oriented in the vertical direction and evaporating the liquid-phase working fluid contained in the liquid phase container; and a gas phase container provided on the opposite side of the liquid phase container across the evaporator and for storing the gas-phase working fluid, A movable body, wherein the liquid phase container and the gas phase container form a flat housing whose plate surface extends in the vertical direction, and the axial direction of the liquid reservoir and the plate surface of the housing are arranged along the traveling direction of the movable body.

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