Loop Heat Pipe Wick Deformation Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
In loop heat pipes, the elastic wick may undergo plastic deformation due to deterioration or creep, leading to degraded adhesion between the evaporator wall and the wick, which reduces cooling performance over time.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a wick deformation member, such as a ring, cylindrical mesh, or coil spring, to preload the wick and maintain contact pressure against the evaporator wall, ensuring continuous adhesion and heat transfer efficiency even when the wick deforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastic wick is pressed into the evaporator to contact the inner wall by elastic force, then adhesion between the wick and evaporator wall is improved, but the wick undergoes plastic deformation due to deterioration or creep over time, degrading adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-compressing the elastic wick using a compression member (such as a spring or elastic ring) before the wick undergoes plastic deformation. This pre-compression ensures that the wick maintains sufficient contact pressure with the evaporator wall from the beginning of operation, compensating for the inevitable plastic deformation that occurs during service. The compression member is installed in advance to provide continuous radial force on the wick, preventing adhesion degradation over time.
2Stress or pressure
If the elastic wick is compressed to increase contact pressure, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the wick material deteriorates faster due to continuous compression stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the compression characteristics of the system. Instead of using a rigid compression mechanism, the invention employs an elastic compression member (spring or elastic ring) that provides gradual, distributed compression force. The compression member's elastic properties allow it to adjust the contact pressure dynamically, maintaining optimal heat transfer while distributing stress over time to prevent rapid wick deterioration. The compression force parameter is optimized to balance heat transfer efficiency with wick material durability.
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 wick deformation member ensures sustained adhesion and heat transfer efficiency by continuously pressing the wick against the evaporator wall, preventing a decrease in cooling performance due to plastic deformation, and maintaining flowability of the working fluid.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic wick configured to contact an inner wall of the evaporator by an elastic force from the elastic wick
Implementation Method 2
a wick deformation member configured to deform the elastic wick to increase a contact pressure of the elastic wick against the inner wall of the evaporator
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator configured to absorb heat from outside by a wall to evaporate a working fluid from a liquid phase to a gas phase
Implementation Method 4
evaporate a working fluid from a liquid phase to a gas phase
Implementation Method 5
a condenser configured to condense a gas phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator into a liquid phase
Data Source
AI summary
A disclosed loop heat pipe includes an evaporator configured to absorb heat from outside by a wall to evaporate a working fluid from a liquid phase to a gas phase; a condenser configured to condense a gas phase working fluid introduced from the evaporator into a liquid phase; an elastic wick configured to contact an inner wall of the evaporator by an elastic force from the elastic wick; and a wick deformation member configured to deform the elastic wick increase a contact pressure of the elastic wick against the inner wall of the evaporator.