Hypersonic leading-edge heat pipe with porous wick, and methods of making and using the same
US11535360B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 17, 2020 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 13, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23P2700/09
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Some variations provide a leading-edge heat pipe comprising: (a) an envelope fabricated from a shell material, wherein the envelope includes at least one edge with a radius of curvature of less than 3 mm, and wherein the envelope includes, or is in thermal communication with, at least one heat-rejection surface; (b) a porous wick fabricated from a ceramic or metallic wick material, wherein the porous wick is configured within a first portion of the interior cavity, wherein at least a portion of the porous wick is adjacent to the inner surface, and wherein the porous wick has a bimodal pore distribution comprising an average capillary-pore size from 0.2 microns to 200 microns and an average high-flow pore size from 100 microns to 2 millimeters (the average high-flow pore size is greater than the average capillary-pore size); and (c) a phase-change heat-transfer material contained within the porous wick.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.