Grid and yarn membrane heat pipes

Abstract

A heat pipe utilizing extended membrane instead of traditional wick structure provides dramatic increase in both flux densities and transport distances both in horizontal and vertical directions.

1 . A heat pipe device comprising a shell, a phase changing liquid disposed within said shell and porous membrane mechanically secured inside said shell in such a manner that surface on said membrane divides inner volume of said shell on two distinct volumes, wherein said volumes are permanently connected only through the pores of said membrane.  
     
     
         2 . A device of  claim 1 , wherein opposite surfaces of said membrane have distinct properties.  
     
     
         3 . A device of  claim 1 , wherein said membrane forms a tube or a network of connected tubes.  
     
     
         4 . A device comprising a network of interconnected devices of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         5 . A device comprising a plurality of devices of  claim 1  forming a linear sequential array, wherein volumes of individual devices of  claim 1  do not connect to adjacent volumes.  
     
     
         6 . A device of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid and associated vapors maintain pressure above ambient pressure at complete operating temperature range.  
     
     
         7 . A device of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid and associated vapors maintain pressure below ambient pressure at some operating temperatures.  
     
     
         8 . A device of  claim 1  wherein said membrane repels said liquid.  
     
     
         9 . A device of  claim 1  wherein said membrane has high affinity to said liquid.  
     
     
         10 . A device of  claim 2  wherein one side of said membrane repels said liquid and opposite side of said membrane has high affinity to said liquid.  
     
     
         11 . A textile comprising devices of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         12 . A cable comprising devices of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         13 . A device of  claim 2  where in said membrane is formed by joint of two membrane films with distinct properties.  
     
     
         14 . A system for passive heat and cold protection for above ground structure that comprises heat pipe devices of  claim 1  in a manner that a part of their surface is disposed within external elements of said structure and a part of their surface is placed underground under structure itself.  
     
     
         15 . A system for passive heat and cold protection for above ground structure that comprises heat pipe devices of  claim 1  in a manner that a part of their surface is disposed within external elements of said structure and a part of their surface is placed underground under some portion of adjacent lot of land.  
     
     
         16 . A system for passive heat and cold protection for above ground structure that comprises heat pipe devices of  claim 1  in a manner that a part of their surface is disposed within external elements of said structure and a part of their surface is placed underground under structure itself and some portion of adjacent lot of land.