High-Temperature Heat Pipe Sealing Without Valves or End Caps
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process of high-temperature heat pipes is complicated and inefficient due to the difficulty in machining refractory metals and the costliness of producing valves and end caps.
Innovation Solution
A method involving necking and reducing the ends of the heat pipe using spinning dies, followed by laser or electron beam welding for sealing, and vacuumization within an inert gas glove box to achieve a high level of gas tightness and prevent oxidation of the working medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sealing methods with valves and end caps are used for high-temperature heat pipes, then the sealing function is achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the complex valve and end cap components from the heat pipe structure. By directly sealing the heat pipe tube body through laser welding or electron beam welding after necking treatment, the patent eliminates the need for separate valves and end caps, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the sealing function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the sealing function with the tube body structure itself. Through necking treatment and direct welding sealing, the sealing capability is integrated into the tube body, eliminating the need for separate sealing components like valves and end caps, thus reducing device complexity
2Stability of the object's composition
If refractory metals are used for high-temperature heat pipes, then high-temperature stability is achieved, but machining difficulty increases due to high hardness and brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical machining methods with laser welding or electron beam welding for sealing the heat pipe. This substitution avoids the need to machine refractory metals directly, overcoming their high hardness and brittleness while maintaining high-temperature stability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies necking treatment to the tube body before sealing, which modifies the local physical parameters of the refractory metal. This pre-treatment makes the material more suitable for subsequent welding operations, reducing machining difficulty while preserving high-temperature stability
3Quantity of substance
If working medium is poured into the heat pipe before vacuumization, then the working medium is in place, but oxidation of the working medium occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs vacuumization of the heat pipe before pouring in the working medium. This preliminary action removes oxygen and other reactive gases from the heat pipe interior, creating an inert environment that prevents oxidation of the working medium when it is subsequently introduced
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates an inert atmosphere inside the heat pipe through vacuumization before adding the working medium. This inert environment protects the working medium from oxidation by eliminating reactive gases such as oxygen that would otherwise be present during the filling process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and ensures the high-temperature heat pipe achieves good gas tightness and prevents oxidation of the working medium, resulting in improved manufacturing efficiency and quality.
Implementation Method 1
sealing the necked end by laser welding or electron beam welding
Implementation Method 2
sealing the necked end by laser welding or electron beam welding
Implementation Method 3
pumping gas inside the heat pipe by the vacuum pump to vacuumize the heat pipe, such that pressure in an inner cavity of the heat pipe reaches a target pressure
Implementation Method 4
heating the heat pipe, connecting the reduced end to a vacuum pump, pumping gas inside the heat pipe by the vacuum pump to vacuumize the heat pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A method for sealing a high-temperature heat pipe includes: (1) necking and reducing two ends of the heat pipe separately, so as to obtain a necked end and a reduced end; (2) sealing the necked end by laser welding or electron beam welding; (3) placing the heat pipe in an inert gas glove box, and pouring a working medium without impurities into the heat pipe; (4) heating the heat pipe, connecting the reduced end to a vacuum pump, pumping gas inside the heat pipe by the vacuum pump to vacuumize the heat pipe, such that pressure in an inner cavity of the heat pipe reaches a target pressure, and flattening the reduced end; and (5) sealing an opening of the flattened reduced end by electron beam welding or laser welding, so as to obtain the high-temperature heat pipe.