Apparatus for coating inside of heat pipe

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for coating the inside of a heat pipe, comprising: a coating solution storage unit in which a coating solution is stored; a coating unit in which one or more heat pipes are disposed, and which receives the coating solution through a pipeline from the coating solution storage unit so as to form a hydrophobic coating layer inside the heat pipe; and a height adjusting unit, which generates a height difference between the coating solution storage unit and the coating unit so as to control that the coating solution is supplied, or stopped from being supplied, from the coating solution storage unit to the coating unit.

Description

Heat pipe internal coating device

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat pipe internal coating device, and more specifically, to a heat pipe internal coating device for forming a hydrophobic coating layer on the inside of a heat pipe used in a heat exchanger or the like.

[0002] A heat pipe is a sealed container in which a working fluid is injected and then evacuated. When one end is heated, the working fluid inside vaporizes and moves to the other end due to the pressure difference, releasing heat to the surroundings before condensing again.

[0003] The heat pipe as described above is a heat transfer mechanism that transfers a high amount of heat by utilizing the latent heat resulting from the phase change of evaporation and condensation of the working fluid and the capillary phenomenon of the wick.

[0004] Figure 1 is a drawing showing condensation of liquid.

[0005] Since the surface of the base material (1), such as a pipe or flat plate, has a lower temperature than the adjacent saturated steam (3), the saturated steam (3) condenses on the surface of the base material (1).

[0006] At this time, after a certain period of time, the saturated steam (3) forms a thin liquid film (2) on the surface of the parent material (1). This liquid film (2) causes the saturated steam (3) surrounding the parent material (1) to continuously condense.

[0007] Here, after a liquid film (2) is formed on the surface of the base material (1), the saturated steam (3) cannot directly contact the surface of the base material (1), so the condensation speed becomes slow, and the liquid film (2) acts as a thermal resistance between the surface of the base material (1) and the saturated steam (3), resulting in a decrease in heat transfer performance.

[0008] Accordingly, a method for improving heat transfer performance by forming a hydrophobic coating film on the inside of a heat pipe is disclosed. When a hydrophobic coating film is formed on the inside of a heat pipe, a liquid film is prevented from forming on the surface of the base material (1), thereby facilitating heat transfer between saturated water vapor (3) and the base material (1).

[0009] One method for forming a hydrophobic coating layer inside a heat pipe is to dipping the heat pipe into a coating solution.

[0010] When dipping a heat pipe in a coating solution like this, there is a problem of wasting the coating solution because both the inside and outside of the heat pipe are coated.

[0011] In addition, an additional process is required to remove the coating layer on the outside of the heat pipe, and furthermore, there is a problem in that it is difficult to completely remove the coating layer on the outside of a product with a complex external shape.

[0012] As a prior art for the present invention, Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2019-0130280 can be cited.

[0013] The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problem, and provides a heat pipe internal coating device that forms a hydrophobic coating layer only on the inner surface when forming the coating layer on the inner surface of a heat pipe, thereby reducing unnecessary consumption of a coating solution and omitting unnecessary work of removing the outer coating layer, thereby improving work productivity.

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a heat pipe internal coating device including a coating liquid storage unit in which a coating liquid is stored; a coating unit having one or more heat pipes arranged inside and receiving a coating liquid from the coating liquid storage unit through a conduit to form a hydrophobic coating layer inside the heat pipe; and a height control unit that controls the supply or stoppage of the coating liquid from the coating liquid storage unit to the coating unit by causing a height difference between the coating liquid storage unit and the coating unit.

[0015] Here, the heat pipe internal coating device may further include a coating liquid supply control unit that controls the flow rate and supply rate of the coating liquid supplied from the coating liquid storage unit to the coating unit.

[0016] The height adjustment unit can set the height of the coating unit to be lower than the height of the coating liquid storage unit or higher than the height of the coating liquid storage unit.

[0017] The above pipe is connected at one end to the coating liquid storage unit, and the other end is branched into a plurality of unit pipes, and each of the unit pipes can be connected to enable supply of the coating liquid to the inside of the heat pipe.

[0018] The coating liquid supply control unit may include a pressure control unit that controls the pressure inside the coating liquid storage unit.

[0019] The above pipe is connected at one end to the coating liquid storage unit, and the other end is branched into a plurality of unit pipes, and each of the unit pipes is connected to enable supply of the coating liquid to the inside of the heat pipe, and the coating liquid supply control unit may include a flow control valve arranged in each of the branched unit pipes.

[0020] The above flow control valve may include a needle valve or a solenoid valve.

[0021] As described above, the present invention forms a hydrophobic coating layer on the inner surface of the heat pipe, so that when saturated water vapor is condensed inside the heat pipe, the heat transfer efficiency between the heat pipe and the saturated water vapor can be improved.

[0022] In addition, since a height difference is generated between the coating liquid storage portion and the coating portion, the coating liquid from the coating liquid storage portion is supplied to the coating portion by a siphon phenomenon due to gravity, so that the coating liquid can be supplied consistently by the height difference between the coating liquid storage portion and the coating portion.

[0023] In addition, the present invention can control the supply speed of the coating liquid from the coating liquid storage unit to the coating unit by adjusting the internal pressure of the coating liquid storage unit.

[0024] In addition, the present invention can control the supply amount of the coating liquid by arranging a means for controlling the supply amount of the coating liquid on a path for supplying the coating liquid from the coating liquid storage unit to the coating unit.

[0025] Figure 1 is a drawing showing condensation of a liquid.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the configuration of a heat pipe internal coating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figures 3 and 4 are drawings showing the use of the heat pipe internal coating device illustrated in Figure 2.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the configuration of a coating device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0030] Figure 2 is a drawing showing the configuration of a coating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, a coating device (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a coating liquid storage unit (110), a coating unit (120), and a height adjustment unit (130).

[0032] The coating liquid storage unit (110) can store a predetermined amount of coating liquid supplied to the coating unit (120) described later.

[0033] Here, the coating solution may include a predetermined hydrophobic substance. In addition, the coating solution forms a predetermined hydrophobic layer inside the heat pipe after the coating process described below is completed.

[0034] The coating unit (120) has a coating target placed inside and performs a coating operation on the placed coating target. To facilitate coating of the coating target, the coating unit (120) may include a predetermined temperature generating unit to enable heat application to the coating target.

[0035] To perform the coating operation, the coating unit (120) receives the coating solution from the coating solution storage unit (110).

[0036] Here, the coating target is a heat pipe (10) used in a condenser of a heat exchanger, and each pipe has a predetermined diameter and length. In addition, in the coating unit (120), a hydrophobic coating layer is formed on the inside of the heat pipe (10), which is the coating target.

[0037] Here, a plurality of heat pipes (10) as a coating target can be arranged in the vertical direction inside the coating section (120).

[0038] Here, one end of the conduit (20) is connected to the coating liquid storage unit (110), and the other end is connected to the coating target placed inside the coating unit (120). At this time, it is preferable that the other end of the conduit (20) supplying the coating liquid be branched into a plurality of unit conduits (22) so that it can correspond to a plurality of heat pipes (10) which are the coating target in the coating unit (120).

[0039] It is preferable that the unit pipe (22) be connected so that the coating liquid can be supplied only to the inside of the heat pipe (10).

[0040] The height adjustment unit (130) allows a predetermined height difference to be generated between the coating liquid storage unit (110) and the coating unit (120), so that the coating liquid can be supplied to the coating unit (120) by a siphon phenomenon generated by the height difference between the coating liquid storage unit (110) and the coating unit (120).

[0041] The height adjustment unit (130) can raise or lower either the coating liquid storage unit (110) or the coating unit (120), or raise or lower both the coating liquid storage unit (110) and the coating unit (120), thereby generating a height difference between the coating liquid storage unit (110) and the coating unit (120).

[0042] In the following description, it will be assumed that the height adjustment unit (130) raises and lowers the coating unit (120) so that a height difference is generated between the coating liquid storage unit (110) and the coating unit (120).

[0043] In addition, the height adjustment unit (130) in the drawing is depicted as an elevating roller that rotates at a predetermined speed after coming into contact with one surface of the coating unit (120) and elevates the coating unit (120). However, if a height difference can be generated between the coating solution storage unit (110) and the coating unit (120), various elevating means can be used without being limited to the above.

[0044] Here, the coating part (120) has a height that can be adjusted and the coating liquid can be supplied by a siphon phenomenon due to gravity.

[0045] That is, when the height of the coating portion (120) becomes lower than the height of the coating liquid storage portion (110), the coating liquid is supplied from the coating liquid storage portion (110) to the coating portion (120).

[0046] Additionally, when the height of the coating unit (120) becomes higher than the height of the coating liquid storage unit (110), the supply of coating liquid from the coating liquid storage unit (110) to the coating unit (120) is stopped.

[0047] Let us look into the operation of the heat pipe internal coating device (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention configured as described above.

[0048] The user stores a predetermined amount of coating liquid (101) inside the coating liquid storage unit (110) and arranges one or more heat pipes (10), which are objects to be coated, inside the coating unit (120). Then, a conduit (20) is arranged so that the coating liquid (101) of the coating liquid storage unit (110) can be supplied to the heat pipes (10).

[0049] At the beginning of the batch stage, the height of the coating unit (120) is set higher than the height of the coating liquid storage unit (110), so that the coating liquid (101) of the coating liquid storage unit (110) is not supplied to the coating unit (120).

[0050] Afterwards, the coating on the heat pipe can be performed as follows.

[0051] Figures 3 and 4 are drawings showing the use of the heat pipe internal coating device illustrated in Figure 2.

[0052] The user operates the height adjustment unit (130) so that the height of the coating unit (120) becomes lower than the height of the coating liquid storage unit (110). When the height of the coating unit (120) is lowered, the coating liquid (101) of the coating liquid storage unit (110) is supplied to the inside of the heat pipe (10) through the conduit (20).

[0053] Referring to FIG. 3, when the height of the coating portion (120) corresponds to or is lowered to the level of the coating liquid (101) inside the coating liquid storage portion (110), the coating liquid (101) is supplied from the coating liquid storage portion (110) to the inside of the heat pipe (10) inside the coating portion (120).

[0054] Accordingly, the coating liquid (101) is supplied to the inside of the heat pipe (10), and the coating liquid forms a predetermined level (A) inside the heat pipe (10), and dipping is performed on the inner surface of the heat pipe (10). In the drawing, the level of the coating liquid is shown to reach the middle of the inside of the heat pipe (10), but this is to indicate that the coating liquid is supplied inside the heat pipe (10), and it should be recognized that the level of the coating liquid reaches the upper part of the inside of the heat pipe (10).

[0055] Here, the level of the coating liquid inside the heat pipe (10) is the same height as the liquid surface of the coating liquid in the coating liquid storage unit (110).

[0056] When the coating liquid is supplied to the inside of the heat pipe (10), the height adjustment unit (130) raises the height of the coating unit (120).

[0057] Referring to Fig. 4, when the height of the coating portion (120) is increased by the height adjustment portion (130), the coating liquid level (A) inside the heat pipe (10) is lowered. At this time, a hydrophobic coating layer (B) is formed on the dipped portion of the inner surface of the heat pipe (10).

[0058] Here, the rising speed of the coating unit (120) can be increased or decreased by controlling the degree of operation of the height adjustment unit (130), and accordingly, the thickness of the hydrophobic coating layer can be adjusted.

[0059] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the configuration of a coating device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 5, a heat pipe internal coating device (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a coating liquid storage unit (210), a coating unit (220), a height adjustment unit (230), and a coating liquid supply control unit.

[0061] For configurations identical to the previous example, a detailed description will be omitted.

[0062] When the height of the coating unit (120) is adjusted, the coating solution supply control unit can control the supply status of the coating solution, that is, the supply amount of the coating solution and the supply speed of the coating solution when the coating solution is supplied from the coating solution storage unit (110) to the coating unit (120).

[0063] The coating liquid supply control unit includes a pressure control unit (240A) and a flow control valve (240B).

[0064] The pressure control unit (240A) controls the pressure inside the coating liquid storage unit (210).

[0065] That is, a predetermined amount of coating liquid (101) is stored inside the coating liquid storage unit (210). Thereafter, when the supply of the coating liquid (201) is initiated, a space corresponding to the amount of the supplied coating liquid is created inside the coating liquid storage unit (110).

[0066] The pressure control unit (240A) can control the pressure inside the coating liquid storage unit (210) by supplying gas to a space created inside the coating liquid storage unit (210), thereby controlling the supply speed of the coating liquid.

[0067] As described above, when the height of the coating unit (220) is set lower than the coating liquid storage unit (210), and the coating liquid (101) is supplied to the coating unit (220), the pressure control unit (240A) can increase the pressure inside the coating liquid storage unit (110) to increase the speed of supplying the coating liquid to the coating unit (120).

[0068] Additionally, the pressure control unit (240A) can lower the pressure inside the coating liquid storage unit (110) to reduce the speed of supply of the coating liquid to the coating unit (120).

[0069] If the pressure inside the coating liquid storage unit (110) can be controlled, various means other than the method of supplying gas can be used as the pressure control unit (240A).

[0070] The flow control valve (240B) is placed on a unit pipe (22) that supplies the coating liquid from the coating liquid storage unit (110) to the coating unit (120), and controls the supply amount of the coating liquid through the unit pipe (22) according to the user's needs.

[0071] The flow control valve (240B) may include a needle valve or solenoid valve whose operating degree is controlled by external control.

[0072] Needle valves and solenoid valves are widely known components, so detailed descriptions of them will be omitted.

[0073] If the supply amount of the coating liquid supplied to the heat pipe (10) through the unit pipe (22) can be controlled, various components other than the valve described above can be applied to the flow control valve (240B).

[0074] By controlling the pressure control unit (240A) and the flow control valve (240B), the formation speed and thickness of the hydrophobic coating layer formed inside the heat pipe (10) can be controlled.

[0075] The present invention allows a hydrophobic coating layer to be formed on the inner surface of a heat pipe, so that when saturated steam is condensed inside the heat pipe, the heat transfer efficiency between the heat pipe and the saturated steam can be improved, and a height difference is generated between a coating liquid storage portion and a coating portion, so that the coating liquid from the coating liquid storage portion is supplied to the coating portion by a siphon phenomenon due to gravity, so that the coating liquid can be supplied consistently by the height difference between the coating liquid storage portion and the coating portion.

[0076] In addition, the present invention can control the supply speed of the coating liquid from the coating liquid storage to the coating unit by adjusting the internal pressure of the coating liquid storage unit, and can control the supply amount of the coating liquid by arranging a means for controlling the supply amount of the coating liquid on the path for supplying the coating liquid from the coating liquid storage unit to the coating unit.

[0077] While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, these are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent alternative embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true scope of technical protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Coating liquid storage unit where coating liquid is stored; A coating unit in which one or more heat pipes are arranged inside, and a coating solution is supplied from the coating solution storage unit through a conduit to form a hydrophobic coating layer inside the heat pipe; and A heat pipe internal coating device including a height control unit that controls the supply or stoppage of coating liquid from the coating liquid storage unit to the coating unit by causing a height difference between the coating liquid storage unit and the coating unit.

2. In claim 1, A heat pipe internal coating device further comprising a coating solution supply control unit that controls the flow rate and supply rate of the coating solution supplied from the coating solution storage unit to the coating unit.

3. In claim 1, The above height adjustment part, The height of the coating portion is set lower than the height of the coating liquid storage portion, or A heat pipe internal coating device set higher than the height of the above coating liquid storage unit.

4. In claim 1, The above pipeline is, First, it is connected to the above coating liquid storage unit, A heat pipe internal coating device in which the other end is branched into a plurality of unit pipes, and each of the unit pipes is connected to enable supply of a coating liquid to the inside of the heat pipe.

5. In claim 2, The above coating solution supply control unit, A heat pipe internal coating device including a pressure control unit that controls the pressure inside the coating liquid storage compartment.

6. In claim 2, The above pipeline is, First, it is connected to the above coating liquid storage unit, After the other end is branched into multiple unit pipes, each unit pipe is connected to enable supply of coating liquid to the inside of the heat pipe. The above coating solution supply control unit, A heat pipe internal coating device including a flow control valve disposed in each of the branched unit pipes.

7. In claim 6, The above flow control valve, A heat pipe internal coating device including a needle valve or solenoid valve.

Images