Claims
- 1. A heat transport system for conducting thermal energy between a heat source and a heat sink comprising bulk material means extending between said heat source and said heat sink, a multiplicity of hollow spherical shells having an outside diameter of less than or equal to 500 microns contained within said bulk material means, with said bulk material means being in heat transfer contact with outer surfaces of said shells, and a volatile working fluid captured within each of said shells, diameter of said shells being coordinated with surface tension of said fluid such that thermal energy is transported across each said shell evaporation at one internal surface of said shell proximate to said heat source, migration of fluid vapor across the internal cavity of said shell, condensation at the opposing shell surface proximate to said heat sink and flow of said fluid along the internal shell wall surface back to said first surface portion.
- 2. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said shells are constructed of material selected from the group consisting of glasses, plastics and metals.
- 3. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said shells are of silicate glass construction.
- 4. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said working fluid comprises water.
- 5. A heat transport system for conducting thermal energy between a heat source and a heat sink within a predetermined temperature range, said system comprising a bulk material of solid phase construction within said temperature range, a plurality of hollow spherical shells encapsulated within said bulk material and in heat transfer contact with said bulk material around the outside surfaces of said shells, said shells being constructed of material having a softening temperature above said temperature range and having an outside diameter less than or equal to 500 microns, and a working fluid captured within each of said shells and having a volatilization temperature within said range, said working fluid being substantially impermeable through said shell material within said temperature range.
- 6. The system set forth in claim 5 wherein said shells have a diameter in the range of 50 to 500 microns and a wall thickness in the range of 1 to 5 microns.
- 7. A method of transporting heat energy from a heat source to a heat sink comprising the steps of:
- (a) locating a bulk material between said heat source and said heat sink, said bulk material having a multiplicity of internally contained cavities having an outside diameter of less than or equal to 500 microns sealed from each other, and
- (b) placing a volatile working fluid into each of said cavities.
- 8. A method of constructing a heat conductive composite material comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a multiplicity of hollow spherical shells having an outside diameter of less than or equal to 500 microns each having a volatile working fluid encapsulated therein, and
- (b) encapsulating said shells within a solid phase bulk material such that said bulk material is in heat transfer contact with and between said. shells.
- 9. The method set forth in claim 8 wherein said shells are constructed of material selected from the group consisting of glasses, plastics and metals.
- 10. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said shells are of silicate glass construction.
- 11. The method set forth in claim 10 wherein said working fluid comprises water.
- 12. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein said bulk material is of plastic construction.
- 13. The method set forth in claim 8 wherein said step (a) comprises the steps of providing preformed shells, placing said shells in an atmosphere of said working fluid in vapor phase at elevated temperature and pressure for a time sufficient to permit permeation of said vapor phase through the walls of said shells into the hollow interior of said shells, and then decreasing temperature and pressure until said working fluid is substantially impermeable through said shell walls.
- 14. A heat conductive composite material consisting essentially of a bulk material, means forming a multiplicity of spherical internal cavities having an outside diameter of less than or equal to 500 microns within said material, said cavities being spaced from and sealed from each other, and a volatile working fluid disposed within each of said cavities and substantially impermeable through said means.
- 15. The composite material set forth in claim 14 wherein said means comprises structure distinct from said bulk material.
- 16. The composite material set forth in claim 15 wherein said means comprise a multiplicity of hollow spherical shells.
- 17. The composite material set forth in claim 16 wherein said shells are constructed of material selected from the group consisting of glasses, plastics and metals.
- 18. The composite material set forth in claim 17 wherein said shells are of silicate glass construction.
- 19. The composite material set forth in claim 18 wherein said working fluid comprises water.
- 20. The composite material set forth in claim 14 wherein said bulk material is of plastic construction.
Government Interests
The Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. DE-AC08-82DP40152 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2443144 |
Mar 1976 |
DEX |
32863 |
Mar 1979 |
JPX |
27890 |
Mar 1981 |
JPX |