Loop Heat Pipe with Segmented Vapor and Liquid Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional loop heat pipes face high thermal resistance at low wattage and significant temperature differences between evaporation and condensation ends, limiting their application in electronic consumer products due to conflicts in vapor and liquid phase flow directions.
Innovation Solution
A loop heat pipe structure with a liquid and vapor separation system, featuring an evaporation chamber with a liquid-preservation capillary structure and connected evaporation and condensation tubular portions, where each evaporation channel includes an inner and outer tube with a flow-returning capillary structure, allowing separate and conflict-free flow directions for vapor and liquid phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional loop heat pipe is used with separate evaporation and condensation portions, then the working fluid can flow between phases, but high thermal resistance occurs at low wattage and great temperature difference exists between ends
Solution Approach 1:
The loop pipe is segmented into separate vapor flow channel and liquid flow channel, with each channel having dedicated tubular portions. This segmentation allows independent optimization of vapor and liquid flow paths, reducing interference between phases and improving thermal efficiency at low wattage operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A flow-returning capillary structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the outer tube and inner tube. This capillary structure mediates the liquid flow return process, enabling controlled liquid circulation while maintaining thermal efficiency and reducing temperature difference between evaporation and condensation ends.
2Ease of operation
If the loop pipe design considers vapor and liquid phase flow directions, then proper fluid circulation can be achieved, but flow direction conflicts occur inside the pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The flow paths are segmented into distinct vapor channels and liquid channels. The vapor phase flows through the inner tube from evaporation to condensation portion, while the liquid phase returns through the annular space between outer and inner tubes. This spatial segmentation eliminates flow direction conflicts by providing separate dedicated paths for each phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a single-dimensional flow path to a multi-dimensional configuration by creating concentric tubular structures. The vapor flows axially through the inner tube while liquid flows axially through the annular region, utilizing different spatial dimensions to avoid flow interference and simplify direction management.
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 separates vapor and liquid phase flows within the loop pipe, reducing thermal resistance and eliminating the need to consider flow direction conflicts, enhancing the heat pipe's applicability to electronic consumer products by improving thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
an inner wall of the evaporation chamber includes a liquid-preservation capillary structure... a flow-returning capillary structure is disposed between the outer tube and the inner tube inside the outer tube; the flow-returning capillary structure extends into the evaporation chamber and is in contact with the liquid-preservation capillary structure
Implementation Method 2
the flow direction of the vapor phase of the working fluid and the flow direction of the liquid phase thereof need to be considered in order to allow the working fluid to be able to flow from the evaporation portion to the condensation portion after being vaporized
Data Source
AI summary
A loop heat pipe structure with a liquid and vapor separation includes an evaporation chamber and a loop pipe. The evaporation chamber includes two connecting ports, and an inner wall of the evaporation chamber includes a liquid-preservation capillary structure. The loop pipe includes two evaporation channel tubular portions and a condensation tubular portion connected between the two evaporation channel tubular portions; and the two evaporation channel tubular portions are connected to the two connecting ports of the evaporation chamber respectively. Wherein each one of the evaporation channel tubular portions includes an inner tube and an outer tube; the inner tube is sleeved inside the outer tube; and a flow-returning capillary structure is disposed between the outer tube and the inner tube inside the outer tube; the flow-returning capillary structure extends into the evaporation chamber and is in contact with the liquid-preservation capillary structure.