Heat Transfer Pipe With Control

Abstract

A heat pipe apparatus for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat sink includes a hollow elongate sealed heat pipe having a hot end adapted for thermal coupling to the heat source, and having a cool end adapted for thermal coupling to the heat sink. A port is defined in a wall of the heat pipe, and a source of pressurized working fluid is connected to the port such that working fluid is admitted to an interior of the heat pipe at a working pressure selected such that working fluid in the interior of the heat pipe condenses at the working pressure and a desired temperature. Working fluid condenses at the cool end of the heat pipe, moves from the cool end of the heat pipe to the hot end of the heat pipe, and evaporates at the hot end of the heat pipe.

1 . A heat pipe apparatus for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat sink, the apparatus comprising:
 a hollow elongate sealed heat pipe having a hot end adapted for thermal coupling to the heat source, and having a cool end adapted for thermal coupling to the heat sink;   a port in a wall of the heat pipe;   a source of pressurized working fluid connected to the port such that working fluid is admitted to an interior of the heat pipe at a working pressure selected such that working fluid in the interior of the heat pipe condenses at the working pressure and a desired temperature;   wherein working fluid condenses at the cool end of the heat pipe, moves from the cool end of the heat pipe to the hot end of the heat pipe, and evaporates at the hot end of the heat pipe.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cool end of the heat pipe is positioned such that the working fluid moves from the cool end of the heat pipe to the hot end of the heat pipe by gravity flow. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a wick located in the interior of the heat pipe and operative to move the working fluid from the cool end of the heat pipe to the hot end of the heat pipe. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the working fluid and working pressure are selected such that the working fluid condenses at an operating temperature and operative to substantially maintain the heat sink at the operating temperature. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the heat sink comprises an endothermic reaction chamber. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the working fluid and working pressure are selected such that the working fluid condenses at an operating temperature and operative to substantially maintain the heat source at the operating temperature. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the heat source comprises an exothermic reaction chamber and wherein the heat sink comprises a heat exchanger operative to remove sufficient heat to maintain the exothermic reaction chamber at the operating temperature. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a pressure control operative to vary the working pressure. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the heat pipe is substantially cylindrical and includes substantially hemispherical end caps. 
   
   
       10 . A heat transfer apparatus comprising:
 a heat source and a heat sink;   a hollow elongate sealed heat pipe having a hot end thermally coupled to the heat source, and having a cool end thermally coupled to the heat sink;   a port in a wall of the heat pipe;   a source of pressurized working fluid connected to the port such that working fluid is admitted to an interior of the heat pipe at a working pressure;   a temperature sensor operative to sense a temperature of one of the heat source and the heat sink and operative to send a temperature signal;   a pressure control operative to receive the temperature signal and vary the working pressure to vary a condensation temperature of the working fluid;   wherein working fluid condenses at the cool end of the heat pipe, moves from the cool end of the heat pipe to the hot end of the heat pipe, and evaporates at the hot end of the heat pipe to substantially maintain the temperature at a desired temperature.   
   
   
       11 . A method for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat sink, the method comprising:
 providing a hollow elongate sealed heat pipe having a hot end and a cool end;   thermally coupling the hot end of the heat pipe to the heat source, and thermally coupling the cool end of the heat pipe to the heat sink;   providing a port in a wall of the heat pipe and connecting a source of pressurized working fluid to the port such that working fluid is admitted to an interior of the heat pipe at a working pressure selected such that working fluid in the interior of the heat pipe condenses at the working pressure and a desired temperature;   condensing working fluid at the cool end of the heat pipe, moving the condensed working fluid from the cool end of the heat pipe to the hot end of the heat pipe, and evaporating the working fluid at the hot end of the heat pipe.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the cool end of the heat pipe is positioned such that the working fluid moves from the cool end of the heat pipe to the hot end of the heat pipe by gravity flow. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  comprising a wick located in the interior of the heat pipe and operative to move the working fluid from the cool end of the heat pipe to the hot end of the heat pipe. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the working fluid and working pressure are selected such that the working fluid condenses at an operating temperature to substantially maintain the heat sink at the operating temperature. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the heat sink comprises an endothermic reaction chamber. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the working fluid and working pressure are selected such that the working fluid condenses at an operating temperature to substantially maintain the heat source at the operating temperature. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the heat source comprises an exothermic reaction chamber and wherein the heat sink comprises a heat exchanger operative to remove sufficient heat to maintain the exothermic reaction chamber at the operating temperature. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  comprising varying the working pressure.