Capillary device for use in heat pipe and method of manufacturing such capillary device

Abstract

A capillary device ( 102 ) for use in a heat pipe in which heat is transferred from at least one evaporation region to at least one condensation region by means of evaporated working fluid is disclosed. The capillary device comprises a body portion defining chambers ( 108 ) containing powdered material ( 110 ) therein, wherein at least part of the periphery of at least one said chamber is porous to allow flow of condensed working fluid, by means of capillary action, through said powdered material in said chamber when flowing from a condensation region to an evaporation region.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A capillary device for use in a heat transfer apparatus in which heat is transferred from at least one first region to at least one second region by means of working fluid, the capillary device comprising a body portion defining at least one chamber containing unfused powdered material therein, wherein at least part of the periphery of at least one said chamber is porous to allow flow of condensed working fluid through said unfused powdered material in said chamber by means of capillary action. 
     
     
         18 . A capillary device according to  claim 17 , wherein the capillary device is adapted to be used in a heat pipe in which heat is transferred from at least one evaporation region to at least one condensation region by means of evaporated working fluid, and at least part of the periphery of at least one said chamber is porous to allow flow of condensed working fluid, by means of capillary action, through said unfused powdered material in said chamber when flowing from a condensation region to an evaporation region. 
     
     
         19 . A capillary device according to  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of said body portion in the vicinity of an evaporation region has a porosity different from a porosity of at least a portion of said body portion remote from said evaporation region. 
     
     
         20 . A capillary device according to  claim 18 , wherein the body portion surrounds an elongate channel and at least one said chamber is located between at least part of said channel and an evaporation region in use. 
     
     
         21 . A capillary device according to  claim 20 , wherein a plurality of said chambers are spaced apart around the periphery of, and protruding into, said channel. 
     
     
         22 . A capillary device according to  claim 18 , further comprising at least one vapour flow passage in said body portion for allowing flow of evaporated working fluid from an evaporation region to a condensation region. 
     
     
         23 . A capillary device according to  claim 22 , wherein at least part of the periphery of at least one said vapour flow passage is porous. 
     
     
         24 . A capillary device according to  claim 17 , wherein said body portion comprises at least one support portion adapted to resist compressive forces applied to the capillary device, wherein at least part of at least one said support portion is porous to allow flow of condensed working fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         25 . A heat transfer apparatus comprising at least one capillary device according to  claim 17 . 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein at least one said capillary device is connected to a plurality of condenser devices. 
     
     
         27 . A method of manufacturing a body portion of a capillary device for use in a heat transfer apparatus in which heat is transferred from at least one first region to at least one second region by means of working fluid, the method comprising forming successive layers of said body portion by means of selective melting of powdered material by means of an energetic beam, such that at least part of said body portion is porous to enable flow of condensed working fluid therethrough, wherein said selective melting of powdered material provides fused powdered material and unfused powdered material, and said body portion defines at least one chamber containing unfused powdered material therein, and wherein at least part of the periphery of at least one said chamber is porous. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein the method is a method of manufacturing a capillary device adapted to be used in a heat pipe in which heat is transferred from at least one evaporation region to at least one condensation region by means of evaporated working fluid, wherein at least part of the periphery of at least one said chamber is porous to allow flow of condensed working fluid, by means of capillary action, through said powdered material in said chamber when flowing from a condensation region to an evaporation region. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein the unfused powdered material encapsulated in at least one said chamber is the same material as the powdered material from which the successive layers are formed. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 27 , further comprising directing at least one stream of powdered material to a location at which said powdered material is melted by means of the energetic beam. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one said stream of said powdered material is constrained in a stream of inert gas.