Loop Heat Pipe Porous Wall Structure Against Thermal Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional loop heat pipes deform due to variations in the volume of the working fluid caused by temperature changes, leading to potential peeling and stress on the pipe components.
Innovation Solution
A loop heat pipe design featuring a pair of outermost metal layers, an intermediate metal layer with a porous body and struts that bond the metal layers together, forming a loop-shaped passage with evaporator, condenser, liquid pipe, and vapor pipe, which reduces deformation by stabilizing the volume changes through capillary forces and strong bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a porous body is provided inside the evaporator and liquid pipe to guide working fluid through capillary force, then the working fluid can be effectively guided to the evaporator and vapor backflow restricted, but the loop heat pipe becomes susceptible to deformation due to temperature-induced volume changes of the working fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous body made of sintered metal particles positioned between the evaporator and liquid pipe. This porous material utilizes capillary forces to guide the working fluid from the liquid pipe to the evaporator while preventing vapor backflow. The porous structure achieves effective fluid control without compromising overall structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining sintered metal particles for the porous body with supporting metal layers. This composite approach integrates the fluid-guiding functionality of the porous material with the structural stability of the metal support, resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural stability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the working fluid volume varies due to temperature changes, then the phase change heat transfer function is maintained, but the loop heat pipe structure experiences deformation and potential peeling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent accommodates temperature-induced volume changes by designing an expandable porous body structure. As temperature increases and the working fluid expands, the porous body and surrounding metal layers can deform elastically, absorbing the volume changes without causing structural failure or peeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a deformable porous body structure that anticipates and absorbs thermal expansion stresses before they cause damage. The flexible design allows the structure to expand and contract with temperature changes, preventing deformation and maintaining structural integrity throughout the heat pipe's operational temperature range.
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
The design effectively minimizes deformation and peeling between the porous body and metal layers, maintaining structural integrity and preventing backflow of vapor, even with temperature-induced volume changes.
Implementation Method 1
a porous body provided between the pair of walls, a first strut penetrating the porous body and bonding the pair of outermost metal layers to each other
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator configured to vaporize a working fluid to generate vapor
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator configured to vaporize a working fluid to generate vapor
Implementation Method 4
a condenser configured to liquefy the vapor of the working fluid
Implementation Method 5
a condenser configured to liquefy the vapor of the working fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A loop heat pipe includes two outermost metal layers, an intermediate metal layer provided between the outermost metal layers, an evaporator, a condenser, and liquid and vapor pipes connecting the evaporator and the condenser and forming a loop shaped passage. The intermediate metal layer includes a pair of walls forming a part of a pipe wall of the evaporator, the condenser, the liquid pipe, and the vapor pipe, a porous body provided between the pair of walls, and a strut penetrating the porous body and bonding the outermost metal layers, and one or more metal layers. Each of the one or more metal layers includes a first part forming a part of the pair of walls, a second part connected to the first part and forming a part of the porous body, and a third part connected to the second part and forming a part of the strut.