Capillary Heat Pipe Reservoir Segmentation for Cold Shock Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capillary-pumped heat transport devices face challenges with start-up reliability and 'cold shock' phenomena, particularly at high thermal powers and under acceleration, due to potential drying of the capillary wick and sudden pressure drops.
Innovation Solution
A heat transfer device with a reservoir featuring distinct liquid volumes separated by internal walls, creating hydraulic damping to prevent excessive liquid movement and mixing, along with a non-return member and energy supply for pressurization control, enhances start-up reliability and mitigates 'cold shock' effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the device uses a single liquid volume in the reservoir, then the structure is simple, but liquid mixing occurs during acceleration causing cold shock and pressure drops
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is divided into multiple compartments by internal walls, creating distinct liquid volumes that are hydraulically damped. This segmentation prevents complete liquid mixing during acceleration while maintaining structural integrity and operational reliability.
2Productivity
If the device operates at high thermal power, then heat transport efficiency is improved, but the capillary wick may dry out during start-up causing failure
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is pre-filled to a specific level (70-90% capacity) before operation. This beforehand cushioning of liquid volume ensures that during high thermal power operation, the capillary wick remains adequately wetted during start-up, preventing drying out and ensuring reliable operation at high heat transport capacities.
3Speed
If the reservoir allows free liquid movement, then thermal equilibrium is achieved quickly, but acceleration causes excessive liquid movement and cold shock
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the reservoir are given different characteristics through internal walls and damping passages. The compartments allow local thermal adjustment while the restricted passages between compartments provide hydraulic damping that prevents excessive liquid movement during acceleration, eliminating cold shock while maintaining thermal equilibrium capability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4b
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a capillary-pumping heat-transport device, which is suitable for extracting heat from a heat source (11) and for returning said heat to a cold source (12) using a two-phase working fluid, including an evaporator (1) having a microporous body (10) suitable for ensuring the capillary pumping of a fluid in the liquid phase, a condenser (2), a tank (3) having an inlet and/or outlet (31; 31a, 31b), a vapor-communication circuit (4) connecting the outlet of the evaporator to the inlet of the condenser, and a liquid-communication circuit (5) connecting the outlet of the condenser to the tank and to the inlet of the evaporator, characterized in that the tank (3) includes a plurality of separate spaces, said separate spaces remaining in fluid communication.