Loop Heat Pipe Grooved Support Fluid Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Loop-type heat pipes struggle to sufficiently absorb variations in operating fluid flow rates, leading to dry-out issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a solid columnar support with grooves in the liquid pipe to guide the operating fluid to a porous body, which retains the fluid and prevents steam backflow, enhancing capillary action and fluid circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a porous body is provided in the liquid pipe to guide operating fluid to the evaporator, then capillary action enables fluid transport, but the variation in flow rate cannot be sufficiently absorbed leading to dry-out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous body made of porous material (such as porous metal or porous ceramic) placed in the liquid pipe. This porous body utilizes capillary action to draw liquid operating fluid from the condenser toward the evaporator, ensuring reliable fluid supply even when flow rate variations occur. The porous structure provides multiple capillary channels that automatically adjust to flow demands, preventing dry-out without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wick material as an intermediary element between the liquid operating fluid and the evaporator. This wick acts as a mediator that passively transports liquid through capillary forces, decoupling the fluid supply mechanism from the main flow dynamics. The wick ensures continuous liquid delivery to the evaporator surface regardless of fluctuations in the primary circulation loop, thereby improving reliability without adding complex control systems.
2Ease of manufacture
If the liquid pipe structure is simplified, then manufacturing becomes easier, but steam backflow from evaporator to liquid pipe cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The porous body serves a dual function: it guides liquid operating fluid to the evaporator while simultaneously blocking steam backflow. The porous structure's fine capillary channels allow liquid to pass through via capillary action but present sufficient resistance to steam pressure, preventing vapor from flowing backward into the liquid pipe. This maintains manufacturing simplicity while ensuring reliable one-way fluid direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harmful effect of steam pressure into a beneficial sealing mechanism. The steam pressure that could cause backflow is instead utilized to press the porous body against the pipe wall or maintain its positioning, enhancing its sealing effect. The pressure differential that drives steam generation also forces steam against the porous barrier, which blocks its passage while allowing liquid to pass through capillary action.
3Productivity
If a solid columnar support with grooves is added to guide operating fluid, then fluid circulation is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The solid columnar support is segmented with multiple grooves arranged in a pattern around its circumference. These grooves divide the fluid guidance function into multiple parallel channels, increasing the effective surface area for fluid guidance and enhancing heat transfer efficiency. The segmented structure achieves better productivity with a relatively simple additive design, as each groove is a basic geometric feature that can be easily manufactured.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves on the solid columnar support utilize the radial dimension to enhance fluid guidance. By creating circumferential grooves on the outer surface of the columnar support, the patent adds a radial component to fluid flow paths, increasing the contact area between the operating fluid and the support structure. This dimensional addition improves heat transfer efficiency without significantly increasing overall structural complexity, as the grooves are surface features rather than volumetric additions.
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 configuration effectively suppresses dry-out by ensuring continuous fluid supply to the evaporator and prevents steam backflow, improving heat transfer efficiency and mechanical strength.
Implementation Method 1
a porous body provided in the liquid pipe and configured to retain therein the liquid operating fluid
Implementation Method 2
a solid columnar support provided in the liquid pipe and configured to guide the operating fluid liquefied by the condenser to the porous body
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator configured to vaporize an operating fluid
Implementation Method 4
configured to transport heat by using a phase change of an operating fluid
Implementation Method 5
a condenser configured to cool and liquefy the vaporized operating fluid
Implementation Method 6
configured to transport heat by using a phase change of an operating fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
A loop-type heat pipe includes an evaporator (110) configured to vaporize an operating fluid (C), a condenser (120) configured to condense the operating fluid (C), a liquid pipe (140) configured to interconnect the evaporator (110) and the condenser (120), a vapor pipe (130) configured to interconnect the evaporator (110) and the condenser (120) and to form a loop together with the liquid pipe (140), a porous body (150) provided in the liquid pipe (140) and configured to retain therein the liquid operating fluid, and a solid columnar support (160) provided in the liquid pipe (140) and configured to guide the operating fluid condensed by the condenser (120) to the porous body (150). At least one first groove is formed at a side surface of the columnar support (160).