Capillary condenser/evaporator
US7775261B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 2005 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF28D15/0233
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A heat transfer device is disclosed for transferring heat to or from a fluid that is undergoing a phase change. The heat transfer device includes a liquid-vapor manifold in fluid communication with a capillary structure thermally connected to a heat transfer interface, all of which are disposed in a housing to contain the vapor. The liquid-vapor manifold transports liquid in a first direction and conducts vapor in a second, opposite direction. The manifold provides a distributed supply of fluid (vapor or liquid) over the surface of the capillary structure. In one embodiment, the manifold has a fractal structure including one or more layers, each layer having one or more conduits for transporting liquid and one or more openings for conducting vapor. Adjacent layers have an increasing number of openings with decreasing area, and an increasing number of conduits with decreasing cross-sectional area, moving in a direction toward the capillary structure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.