US2004104011A1PendingUtilityA1

Thermal management system

13
Priority: Oct 23, 2002Filed: Oct 23, 2002Published: Jun 3, 2004
Est. expiryOct 23, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Paul Crutchfield
F28D 15/02
13
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

The present invention includes use of suitable inert, or non-reactive, gas, or gases, having suitably small molecules (such as helium or neon) in a heat pipe to enhance the surface tension (capillarity) of the heat pipe working fluid, thus improving the design and performance of almost any heat pipe. A region in the vapor space adjacent to the curved liquid surface contributes about 5-10% to the total surface tension, and is described as the Crutchfield Transition Region. The invention takes advantage of the kinetic theory of capillarity based on penetrations of the liquid surface by the overbearing gas and vapor molecules until a collision between liquid and gaseous molecules occurs. Smaller molecules such as helium penetrate further. A spread loss (or gain) of the particle flux frames a pressure change.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a heat pipe having a container, a transfer device, and a working fluid, the improvement comprising the addition of a gas in the container having suitably small molecules to enhance the surface tension of the working fluid.  
     
     
         2 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the gas and the working fluid have a mean free path greater than that between air and water.  
     
     
         3 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the gas has a particle diameter less than that of water.  
     
     
         4 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is capable of hydrogen bonding.  
     
     
         5 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is polar.  
     
     
         6 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is an inert gas.  
     
     
         7 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is helium.  
     
     
         8 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is neon.  
     
     
         9 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer device is a wick.  
     
     
         10 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer device is a porous material.  
     
     
         11 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein effective collision diameter for molecules of the working fluid and molecules of the gas is less than approximately 3.04 Å.  
     
     
         12 . In a heat pipe having a container, a transfer device, and a working fluid, the improvement comprising the addition of a gas in the container wherein the gas and the working fluid have a mean free path greater than that between air and water.  
     
     
         13 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 12 , wherein the gas is an inert gas.  
     
     
         14 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 12 , wherein the effective collision diameter for molecules of the working fluid and molecules of the gas is less than approximately 3.04 Å.  
     
     
         15 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 12 , wherein the gas has particle diameter of less than 3.88 Å.  
     
     
         16 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 12 , wherein the gas has particle diameter of less than 3.72 Å.  
     
     
         17 . The improved heat pipe of  claim 12 , wherein the gas has particle diameter of less than 2.18 Å.

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