Heat exchanger with internal heat pipe
US8002021B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 2008 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 24, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention is a heat exchanger transferring heat from a small heat source to a moving fluid. The inherent limitation of such a system is that most of the heat transfer to the fluid occurs only in the immediate vicinity of the heat input even though a large surface area heat transfer structure such as fins or small fluid passages is used to enhance the heat transfer within the heat exchanger. The invention adds a heat pipe inside the heat exchanger enclosure and in contact with the heat transfer structure. The heat pipe spreads the incoming heat over a larger part of the surface area of the heat transfer structure and improves the heat transfer to the cooling fluid by furnishing multiple heat transfer locations without adding extra thermal resistance between the heat source and the fluid flow.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.