Thermal transfer system

Abstract

A thermal transfer system for a pressure vessel adapted for use in an underwater environment includes a housing having a bore adapted to receive a heat pipe. Embodiments of the housing include a mounting flange for mounting the housing to the pressure vessel, a radially extending profile to enhance thermal transfer between the housing and the underwater environment, and an aperture in fluidic communication with the bore. A method of providing thermal transfer between an interior of the pressure vessel and the underwater environment includes inserting the heat pipe into the bore, sealing a distal end of the bore, and mounting the housing to the pressure vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal transfer system for a pressure vessel adapted for use in an underwater environment, the thermal transfer system comprising:
 an elongate housing forming a bore adapted to receive therein a heat pipe, the housing comprising:
 a mounting flange disposed at a proximal end of the housing for mounting the housing to and aligning the bore with an aperture formed in the pressure vessel; 
 a radially extending profile disposed at least partially along an intermediate portion of the housing, the profile adapted to enhance thermal transfer between the housing and the underwater environment; and 
 an aperture formed in a distal end of the housing in fluidic communication with the bore. 
   
     
     
         2 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure vessel forms at least a portion of at least one of an underwater vehicle and a moored component. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing bore is sized to receive the heat pipe in at least one of a close sliding fit, a braze fit, and a shrink fit. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe comprises a sealed housing including a working fluid disposed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting flange forms a series of apertures defining a bolt hole pattern for receiving fasteners therethrough for affixing the flange to the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting flange further forms a circumferential groove on a radial face thereof adapted to receive a gland seal for sealing the flange to an exterior surface of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 6  further comprising a gland seal disposed in the groove. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the housing comprises an extension adapted to be received in the pressure vessel aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 8 , wherein the extension forms a circumferential groove on an outer surface thereof adapted to receive a gland seal for sealing the extension in the pressure vessel aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 9  further comprising a gland seal disposed in the groove. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the housing comprises a threaded portion. 
     
     
         12 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the radially extending profile comprises a plurality of fins. 
     
     
         13 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of fins are disposed from the mounting flange to the distal end of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the bore comprises the distal end aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 1  further comprising a faceplate removably affixed to the distal end of the housing to seal the distal end aperture. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 15 , wherein the faceplate forms a series of apertures defining a bolt hole pattern for receiving fasteners therethrough for affixing the cap to the distal end of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the faceplate and the distal end of the housing forms a circumferential groove on a respective radial face thereof adapted to receive a gland seal for sealing the cap to the distal end of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 17  further comprising a gland seal disposed in the groove. 
     
     
         19 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 1  further comprising the heat pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 19  further comprising a component in thermal communication with the heat pipe. 
     
     
         21 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 1  further comprising the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         22 . A method of providing thermal transfer between an interior of a pressure vessel adapted for use in an underwater environment and the underwater environment, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting a heat pipe into a bore formed in an elongate housing, the bore extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the housing;   thereafter, sealing the distal end of the bore; and   mounting the proximal end of the housing to the pressure vessel so that an exposed portion of the heat pipe extends into the interior of the pressure vessel.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the pressure vessel forms at least a portion of at least one of an underwater vehicle and a moored component. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the housing bore is sized to receive the heat pipe in at least one of a close sliding fit, a braze fit, and a shrink fit. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24  further comprising the step of inserting a thermal compound into the bore to enhance thermal transfer between the heat pipe and the housing when there exists the close sliding fit. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the heat pipe comprises a sealed housing including a working fluid disposed therein. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the mounting step comprises bolting the housing to the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising the step of sealing the housing to the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the distal end of the housing comprises a thermal transfer system. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the thermal transfer system comprises a plurality of fins. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the sealing step comprises attaching a faceplate to the distal end of the housing. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the attaching step comprises bolting the faceplate to the distal end of the housing. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising the step of sealing the faceplate to the distal end of the housing. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 22  further comprising the step of mounting a component in thermal communication with the exposed portion of the heat pipe.