Patent Application
20160097601
1. Field
The present disclosure relates to heat transfer devices, more particularly to heat transfer fins for efficiently transferring heat.
2. Description of Related Art
Certain heat exchangers involve the use of fin type heat transfer devices (fins) for transferring heat to/from a working fluid such as the ambient atmosphere. In some cases, the fins can include hollow channels which allow coolant to flow therein. Air can be passed over the fins to extract heat therefrom or add heat thereto.
Such conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is always a need in the art for heat exchangers having improved efficiency over the existing devices. The present disclosure provides a solution for this need.
In at least one aspect of this disclosure, a heat exchanger includes a fin body and a heat pipe having a first portion disposed on or at least partially within the fin body and a second portion extending from the fin body, wherein the heat pipe includes a hollow core filled with a heat pipe working fluid having a liquid phase that is configured to transition to gas and to be returned to the liquid phase at an operational temperature of the heat exchanger.
The fin body can include an elongated shape. The fin body can be rectangular for example. The fin body can define a conduit such that coolant can flow therein.
The heat pipe can extend at least partially into the conduit. The heat pipe can extend normally from a surface of the fin body. The heat pipe can be configured to have a cylindrical pipe shape. It also contemplated that the heat pipe can have a rectangular sheet shape.
The heat exchanger can further comprising a plurality of heat pipes such as those described herein. A mesh structure can be disposed between at least two of the plurality of heat pipes. The plurality of heat pipes can include at least two heat pipes of different size, shape, and/or length. The plurality of heat pipes can include progressively more elongated heat pipes in a direction of flow.
The heat exchanger can further include a second body in thermal communication with the heat pipe at the second portion. The second portion of each heat pipe can be disposed at least partially within the second body.
These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, an illustrative view of an embodiment of a heat exchanger in accordance with the disclosure is shown in
In at least one aspect of this disclosure, referring to
As shown in
The fin body 101 can define a conduit 103 such that a suitable coolant can flow therein. The conduit 103 can be of any suitable shape and/or size. The fin body 101 can include an elongated form factor or any other suitable shape. In some embodiments, the fin body 101 is rectangular.
As shown, one or more heat pipes 105 can extend at least partially into the conduit 103. One or more heat pipes 105 can extend normally (i.e., 90 degrees) from a surface of the body 101 or in any other suitable direction/angle from the fin body 101. One or more heat pipes 105 can be configured to have a cylindrical pipe shape or any other suitable shape. For example, in certain embodiments, one or more heat pipes 105 include a rectangular sheet shape.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In certain embodiments, the second fin body 101b can also include a conduit 103b like conduit 103 described above. As shown, the second portion 106b of the heat pipes 105 can be disposed at least partially within the second fin body 101b in any suitable manner. Additional fin bodies and heat pipes 105 are contemplated herein and can be thermally connected to the first fin body 101a and/or second fin body 101b in any suitable manner.
The devices, methods, and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for heat transfer devices with superior properties including improved thermal transfer efficiency. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure.
