Heat dissipating devices and methods

Abstract

Heat dissipating devices and methods are disclosed. An example method may include evaporating a liquid working fluid, a resulting vapor phase to absorb heat. The method may also include condensing the vaporized working fluid back to a liquid phase to release the heat to an external environment. The method may also include returning the liquid working fluid back to the evaporation zone.

1 . A device for dissipating heat, comprising:
 an evaporation zone where a working fluid undergoes a change from a liquid phase to a vapor phase;   a condensing zone interfacing with a heat sink in thermal communication with an external environment, the working fluid in the vapor phase changing back to the liquid phase in the condensing zone.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an adiabatic zone where the working fluid in the vapor phase is transported without heat transfer. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sealed heat pipe body; and   a concentrating photovoltaic conductor assembly attached to the sealed heat pipe body.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a wick structure extending substantially adjacent each heat-generating element in a series-arranged photovoltaic conductor assembly, the wick structure to transport the working fluid in the liquid phase to the evaporation zone. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat sink is arranged to substantially conform to an underside of concentrating optics for a concentrating photovoltaic conductor assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat sink is a fin pack. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporation zone is in a same plane as a photovoltaic conductor assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporation zone is orthogonal to a photovoltaic conductor assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a channel structure defining the evaporation zone and the condensing zone. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a wick structure partially wraps around the channel structure. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the channel structure is positioned between adjacent walls of the wick structure. 
     
     
         12 . A method of dissipating heat, comprising:
 evaporating a liquid working fluid, a resulting vapor phase to absorb heat;   condensing the vaporized working fluid back to a liquid phase to release the heat to an external environment; and   returning the liquid working fluid back to the evaporation zone.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising transporting the vaporized working fluid in an adiabatic zone without heat transfer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising transporting heat away from a concentrating photovoltaic device using a high-rate thermodynamic cycle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising recycling the working fluid through repeated condensation and capillary action.