Heat pipe system having common vapor rail for use in a ventilation system

Abstract

A heat transfer system is adapted for transferring heat between two different ducts in a ventilation system. The system has a heat pipe having a plurality of conduits. Each conduit including an evaporator section extending laterally from a first open end of the respective conduit, a condenser section extending laterally from a second open end of the respective conduit, and a liquid return section. The liquid return section of at least one conduit being distinct from the liquid return section of another of the conduits. A common vapor manifold is in fluid communication with and extends between the first and second open ends of each of said plurality of conduits so vapors produced in the evaporator sections can flow from the first open ends through the common vapor manifold to the second open ends without flowing through the conduits.

1 . A heat transfer system adapted for transferring heat between two different ducts in a ventilation system, the system comprising a heat pipe comprising,
 a plurality of conduits, each conduit including an evaporator section extending laterally from a first open end of the respective conduit, a condenser section extending laterally from a second open end of the respective conduit, and a liquid return section, the liquid return section for each conduit being connected to the evaporator section at a position away from the first open end and connected to the condenser section at a position away from the second open end so the evaporator and condenser section are in fluid communication with one another through the liquid return section for flow of liquid condensed in the condenser section to the evaporator section, the liquid return section of at least one conduit being distinct from the liquid return section of another of the conduits; and   a common vapor manifold in fluid communication with and extending between the first and second open ends of each of said plurality of conduits so vapors produced in the evaporator sections can flow from the first open ends through the common vapor manifold to the second open ends without flowing through the conduits.   
     
     
         2 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the conduits are substantially straight. 
     
     
         3 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the heat pipe is a first heat pipe, the system further comprising at least one additional heat pipe, each additional heat pipe comprising:
 a plurality of conduits, each conduit including an evaporator section extending laterally from a first open end of the respective conduit, a condenser section extending laterally from a second open end of the respective conduit, and a liquid return section, the liquid return section for each conduit being connected to the evaporator section at a position away from the first open end and connected to the condenser section at a position away from the second open end so the evaporator and condenser section are in fluid communication with one another through the liquid return section for flow of liquid condensed in the condenser section to the evaporator section, the liquid return section of at least one conduit being distinct from the liquid return section of another of the conduits; and 
 a common vapor manifold in fluid communication with and extending between the first and second open ends of each of said plurality of conduits so vapors produced in the evaporator sections can flow from the first open ends through the common vapor manifold to the second open ends without flowing through the conduits. 
 
     
     
         4 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the heat pipes are arranged relative to one another to form an array of evaporator sections on one side of the system and an array of condenser sections on an opposite side of the system. 
     
     
         5 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 4  further comprising a first set of fins on the evaporator sections and a second set of fins on the condenser sections. 
     
     
         6 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 4  further comprising a frame supporting the heat pipes and fins, the frame being configured to extend from a first ventilation duct into a second ventilation duct different from the first duct. 
     
     
         7 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 6  wherein when the evaporator sections of the heat pipes are in a relatively cooler environment and the condenser sections are in a relatively warmer environment, the evaporator sections can be operated as condenser sections and the condenser sections can be operated as evaporator sections without requiring any tilting of the heat pipes to reverse the flow of the liquid in the conduits. 
     
     
         8 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said plurality of conduits are made of tubing no larger in diameter than ½ inch tubing. 
     
     
         9 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the length of each of said plurality of conduits is in the range of about 100 to about 250 inches. 
     
     
         10 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the heat pipe contains no more than a 35% charge of the working fluid. 
     
     
         11 . A heat transfer system adapted for transferring heat between two different ducts in a ventilation system, the system comprising a heat pipe comprising,
 first and second sets of conduits, each set of conduits comprising a plurality of conduits extending between open ends and spaced vertically from one another, the conduits of the first set being in generally side-by-side relation with the conduits of the second set and spaced laterally from the conduits of the second set,   a first vapor manifold comprising a leg at one end of the conduits of the first set, another leg at an opposite end of the conduits of the second set, and a vapor passage extending between and in fluid communication with the legs of the first manifold, wherein the vapor passage extends between the first and second sets of conduits so vapor can flow between the ends of the conduits of the first set and the opposite ends of the conduits of the second set through the first vapor manifold without flowing through any conduits of said first and second set of conduits, and   a second vapor manifold comprising a leg at one end of the conduits of the second set, another leg at an opposite end of the conduits of the first set, and a vapor passage extending between and in fluid communication with the legs of the second manifold, wherein the vapor passage extends between the first and second sets of conduits so vapor can flow between the ends of the conduits of the first set and the opposite ends of the conduits of the second set through the second vapor manifold without flowing through any conduits of said first and second set of conduits.   
     
     
         12 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the vapor passages of the first and second manifolds extend diagonally across a gap between the first and second sets of conduits and criss-cross one another. 
     
     
         13 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the conduits of the first and second sets of conduits are substantially straight. 
     
     
         14 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the vapor passages of the first and second manifolds extend across a top of a gap between the first and second sets of conduits. 
     
     
         15 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said plurality of conduits made of tubing having a diameter no larger than ½ tubing. 
     
     
         16 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the length of each of said plurality of conduits is in the range of about 100 to about 250 inches. 
     
     
         17 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the heat pipe contains no more than a 35% charge of a phase changing working fluid. 
     
     
         18 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the heat pipe is a first heat pipe, the system further comprising a second heat pipe comprising:
 first and second sets of conduits, each set of conduits comprising a plurality of conduits extending between open ends and spaced vertically from one another, the conduits of the first set being in generally side-by-side relation with the conduits of the second set and spaced laterally from the conduits of the second set by a gap, 
 a first vapor manifold comprising a leg at one end of the conduits of the first set, another leg at an opposite end of the conduits of the second set, and a vapor passage extending between and in fluid communication with the legs of the first manifold, wherein the vapor passage extends across the gap between the first and second sets of conduits so vapor can flow between the ends of the conduits of the first set and the opposite ends of the conduits of the second set through the first vapor manifold without flowing through any conduits of said first and second set of conduits, and 
 a second vapor manifold comprising a leg at one end of the conduits of the second set, another leg at an opposite end of the conduits of the first set, and a vapor passage extending between and in fluid communication with the legs of the second manifold, wherein the vapor passage extends across the gap between the first and second sets of conduits so vapor can flow between the ends of the conduits of the first set and the opposite ends of the conduits of the second set through the second vapor manifold without flowing through any conduits of said first and second set of conduits, 
 wherein the second heat pipe is nested within the first heat pipe so the first and second sets of conduits for the second heat pipe are positioned in the gap between the first and second sets of conduits for the first heat pipe. 
 
     
     
         19 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 18  further comprising a third heat pipe, the third heat pipe comprising;
 a plurality of conduits extending between opposite open ends; and 
 a vapor manifold in fluid communication with and extending between the first and second open ends of each of said plurality of conduits so vapors can flow between the first and second open ends of the conduits through the vapor manifold without flowing through the conduits, 
 wherein the conduits for the third heat pipe are positioned in the gap between the first and second sets of conduits for the second heat pipe. 
 
     
     
         20 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 19  further comprising a fourth heat pipe, the fourth heat pipe comprising:
 a plurality of conduits extending between opposite open ends; and 
 a vapor manifold in fluid communication with and extending between the first and second open ends of each of said plurality of conduits so vapors can flow between the first and second open ends of the conduits through the vapor manifold without flowing through the conduits, 
 wherein the conduits for the fourth heat pipe are positioned in the gap between the first and second sets of conduits for the second heat pipe. 
 
     
     
         21 . A heat transfer system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the heat pipe is supported by a frame mounted in a ventilation system so the conduits of the first and second set of conduits extend from a position within a first duct to a position within a second duct different from the first duct and the first set of conduits are upstream of the second set of conduits in each of the first and second ducts.