Claims
- 1. A heat pipe loop comprising:
a first heat pipe section having a first temperature; a second heat pipe section having a second temperature higher than the first temperature; a vapor line connecting an upper portion of the first heat pipe section with an upper portion of the second heat pipe section; a liquid line connecting a lower portion of the first heat pipe section with a lower portion of the second heat pipe section; and a pump which pumps liquid from the first heat pipe section to the second heat pipe section through the liquid line.
- 2. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 in which the first heat pipe section is a condenser and the second heat pipe section is an evaporator.
- 3. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 in which the first heat pipe section is disposed at a first elevation and the second heat pipe section is disposed at a second elevation higher than the first elevation.
- 4. The heat pipe loop- of claim 1 further comprising:
a first plurality of tubes of the first heat pipe section; and a second plurality of tubes of the second heat pipe section, in which the pump raises a liquid level in the second plurality of tubes to flood the second heat pipe section.
- 5. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 further comprising:
a first plurality of tubes of the first heat pipe section; a second plurality of tubes of the second heat pipe section; and a liquid distributor intermediate the pump and the second heat pipe section which sprays the liquid to wet an inside surface of each of the second plurality of tubes.
- 6. The heat pipe loop of claim 5 in which the liquid distributor sprays the liquid from an upper portion of the second plurality of tubes.
- 7. The heat pipe loop of claim 6 further comprising:
a liquid return line intermediate a lower portion of the second plurality of tubes and an inlet of the pump.
- 8. The heat pipe loop of claim 6 in which the liquid distributor comprises a perforated pipe disposed coaxially within the vapor line.
- 9. The heat pipe loop of claim 5 in which the liquid distributor sprays the liquid from a lower portion of the second plurality of tubes.
- 10. The heat pipe loop of claim 9 in which the liquid distributor comprises a perforated pipe disposed coaxially within the liquid line.
- 11. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 further comprising:
a first plurality of tubes of the first heat pipe section, the first plurality of tubes being disposed substantially vertically; and a second plurality of tubes of the second heat pipe section, the second plurality of tubes being disposed substantially vertically.
- 12. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 further comprising:
a first plurality of tubes of the first heat pipe section, the first plurality of tubes being disposed substantially horizontally; and a second plurality of tubes of the second heat pipe section, the second plurality of tubes being disposed substantially horizontally.
- 13. The heat pipe loop of claim 1 in which the second temperature is less than about 5° F. higher than the first temperature.
- 14. The heat pipe-loop of claim 1 further comprising:
a serpentine tube in the first heat pipe section; and a serpentine tube in the second heat pipe section.
- 15. A heat pipe loop comprising:
a first heat pipe section; a second heat pipe section; a vapor line connecting an upper portion of the first heat pipe section with an upper portion of the second heat pipe section; a liquid line connecting a lower portion of the first heat pipe section with a lower portion of the second heat pipe section; and a first pump which pumps liquid from one heat pipe section to the other heat pipe section through the liquid line.
- 16. The heat pipe loop of claim 15 in which the liquid line further comprises:
a first feed line through which the pump pumps liquid from the first heat pipe section to the second heat pipe section; a second feed line through which the pump pumps liquid from the second heat pipe section to the first heat pipe section; and a valve system which allows pumping through only one of either the first or second feed lines at a time.
- 17. The heat pipe loop of claim 15 further comprising:
a second pump, wherein the first pump pumps liquid from the first heat pipe section to the second heat pipe section and the second pump pumps liquid from the second heat pipe section to the first heat pipe section.
- 18. The heat pipe loop of claim 17 in which the first pump and the second pump each allow free back flow when not operating.
- 19. The heat pipe loop of claim 15 in which the liquid line further comprises:
a first feed line through which the first pump pumps liquid from the first heat pipe section to the second heat pipe section; a second feed line through which a second pump pumps liquid from the second heat pipe section to the first heat pipe section; and a valve system which allows pumping through only one of either the first or second feed lines at a time.
- 20. A heat pipe loop comprising:
a first heat pipe section having a first temperature; a second heat pipe section having a second temperature higher than the first temperature; a vapor line connecting an upper portion of the first heat pipe section with an upper portion of the second heat pipe section; a liquid line connecting a lower portion of the first heat pipe section with a lower portion of the second heat pipe section; and a means for pumping liquid from the first heat pipe section to the second heat pipe section through the liquid line.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/351,060, filed Jan. 22, 2002, for “Heat Pipe Loop with Pump Assistance” by Khanh Dinh.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60351060 |
Jan 2002 |
US |