U.S. patent application number 12/548861 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-04 for variable conductance heat pipe.
This patent application is currently assigned to MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Shingo Hironaka, Shigetoshi IPPOSHI, Kuraki Kitazaki, Tetsuya Nagayasu, Yukio Sato.
Application Number | 20100051240 12/548861 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41723599 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100051240 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
IPPOSHI; Shigetoshi ; et
al. |
March 4, 2010 |
VARIABLE CONDUCTANCE HEAT PIPE
Abstract
A variable conductance heat pipe is provided. The variable
conductance heat pipe includes a sealed container in which a
working fluid and a noncondensable gas are sealed, the sealed
container extending in an axial direction. The sealed container
includes one end to be connected to a heating source and a part to
be connected to a heat sink. On a cross section of the sealed
container along a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, a
portion having water conveying property better than other portions
is provided. The portion having the better water conveying property
extends in the axial direction.
Inventors: |
IPPOSHI; Shigetoshi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Nagayasu; Tetsuya; (Tokyo, JP) ;
Hironaka; Shingo; (Tokyo, JP) ; Kitazaki; Kuraki;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Sato; Yukio; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC
CORPORATION
Chiyoda-ku
JP
|
Family ID: |
41723599 |
Appl. No.: |
12/548861 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/104.26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/0233 20130101;
F28F 13/14 20130101; F28D 15/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/104.26 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/02 20060101
F28D015/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 28, 2008 |
JP |
2008-219549 |
Claims
1. A variable conductance heat pipe comprising a sealed container
in which a working fluid and a noncondensable gas are sealed, the
sealed container extending in an axial direction, the sealed
container including one end to be connected to a heating source and
a part to be connected to a heat sink, wherein, on a cross section
of the sealed container along a direction orthogonal to the axial
direction, a portion having water conveying property better than
other portions is provided, and wherein the portion having the
better water conveying property extends in the axial direction.
2. The variable conductance heat pipe according to claim 1, further
comprising an insertion member inserted eccentrically into the
interior of the sealed container so as to configure the portion
having the better water conveying property between an inner wall of
the sealed container and the insertion member.
3. The variable conductance heat pipe according to claim 2, wherein
the insertion member is inserted eccentrically so that a flow path
having a larger cross-sectional area and a flow path having a
smaller cross-sectional area are configured along the axial
direction of the sealed container between the inner wall of the
sealed container and the inserted insertion member, and wherein the
larger cross-sectional area flow path and the smaller
cross-sectional area flow path communicate with each other at least
partially.
4. The variable conductance heat pipe according to claim 3, wherein
the insertion member is a board or a wire mesh.
5. The variable conductance heat pipe according to claim 3, further
comprising a spacer so that the insertion member is kept separate
from the inner wall of the sealed container.
6. The variable conductance heat pipe according to claim 2, wherein
the insertion member includes a portion having a larger
cross-sectional area than other portions.
7. The variable conductance heat pipe according to claim 2, wherein
a rod is inserted eccentrically in the interior of the sealed
container.
8. The variable conductance heat pipe according to claim 1, wherein
a spiral fine wire is provided to extend along an inner wall of the
sealed container to configure the portion having better water
conveying property.
9. The variable conductance heat pipe according to claim 1, wherein
a treatment for improving water conveying property is applied to a
part of an interior wall of the sealed container to configure the
portion having better water conveying property.
10. The variable conductance heat pipe according to claim 9,
wherein irregularities including a recessed portion and a raised
portion extending in the axial direction are provided at a part of
the inner wall of the sealed container to configure the portion
having better water conveying property.
11. The variable conductance heat pipe according to claim 1,
wherein a part of an inner wall of the sealed container in cross
section is deformed, so that the deformed portion configures the
portion having better water conveying property.
12. The variable conductance heat pipe according to claim 1,
wherein the heating source is a semiconductor laser.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2008-219549, filed on Aug. 28, 2008, the entire
subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a cooler for controlling
the temperature of an electronic equipment and more particularly to
a cooler which employs a variable conductance heat pipe.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In a related-art electronic equipment cooler, in order to
obtain a desired function in a stable manner, it has been regarded
important to cool the electronic equipment to a temperature equal
to or lower than its permissible temperature. Although as coolers
for electronic equipment, radiational cooling type, natural air
cooling type, forced air cooling type, liquid cooling type and
boiling cooling type coolers have been used, in recent years, heat
pipes have also been used in many cases. These coolers have thermal
resistances which are specific thereto. When the coolers are
actually used, as the heating amount of electronic equipment
increases or as the ambient environmental temperature increases,
the temperature of the electronic equipment increases, whereas the
flow rate of a cooling medium (such as air, water or the like)
which flows through a heat radiating or radiating portion
increases, the temperature of the electronic equipment decreases.
Consequently, the temperature of the electronic equipment varies as
the operating factor or environmental factor varies, and it is
inevitable in practice that a heat cycle occurs. This heat cycle
generates an inner stress attributed to a difference in linear
expansion coefficient between respective materials which make up
the electronic equipment, which causes a failure of the electronic
equipment, that is, shortens the life of the electronic
equipment.
[0006] In view of the above-described background, in order to
extend the life of electronic equipment, coolers which can suppress
the heat cycle has been required, and as one of such cooling
equipment, there has been proposed a variable conductance heat pipe
in which a noncondensable gas such as helium, argon, nitrogen or
the like is put in an interior of the heat pipe (for example,
JP-A-10-122775 (page 2, FIG. 1)).
[0007] In such a variable conductance heat pile, although a working
fluid (liquid and vapor) and a noncondensable gas are sealed in an
interior of a sealed container which is made up of a heat receiving
portion, a heat insulating portion (a transport portion), a heat
radiating portion and a gas reservoir, since the variable
conductance heat pipe takes various postures during production,
storage, transportation and installation, the working fluid flows
into an interior of the gas reservoir, or the working fluid flows
into the interior of the gas reservoir due to a drastic change in
temperature. Accordingly, the working fluid does not always reside
within the heat receiving portion, which causes a problem with the
stable actuation and stable operation of the variable conductance
heat pipe. Therefore, it has been difficult to mass produce
variable conductance heat pipes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a
variable conductance heat pipe comprising a sealed container in
which a working fluid and a noncondensable gas are sealed, the
sealed container extending in an axial direction, the sealed
container including one end to be connected to a heating source and
a part to be connected to a heat sink, wherein, on a cross section
of the sealed container along a direction orthogonal to the axial
direction, a portion having water conveying property better than
other portions is provided, and wherein the portion having the
better water conveying property extends in the axial direction.
[0009] According to the above-configuration, irrespective of
conditions of the variable conductance heat pipe during storage,
transportation and installation, the stable actuation and stable
operation thereof can be obtained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail based on the following figures, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a main part of
a variable conductance heat pipe according to Embodiment 1 of the
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a main part of
a related-art variable conductance heat pipe;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view which describes the
operation of the variable conductance heat pipe according to
Embodiment 1 of the invention;
[0014] FIGS. 4A to 4C are sectional views showing modified examples
to the variable conductance heat pipe according to Embodiment 1 of
the invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing a main part of
a variable conductance heat pipe according to Embodiment 2 of the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing a modified
example of an insertion member to that of Embodiment 2 of the
invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view showing a main part of
a modified example to the variable conductance heat pipe according
to Embodiment 2 of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an insertion
member according to Embodiment 2 of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view showing a main part of
another modified example to the variable conductance heat pipe
according to Embodiment 2; and
[0020] FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view showing an insertion
member according to Embodiment 3 of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1
[0021] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a variable conductance
heat pipe according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. In the
figure, a left-hand part is a sectional view including an axis of a
sealed container which makes up the variable conductance heat pipe
and a right-hand part shows a section taken orthogonal to the axis,
that is, an enlarged sectional view taken along the line A-A. From
one end portion, a sealed container 1 includes a heat receiving
portion 2 (an evaporating portion), a heat insulating portion 3 (a
transporting portion), a heat radiating portion 4 (a condensing
portion) and a noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5. A working
fluid (a liquid 6 and vapor 7 thereof) and a noncondensable gas 8
are sealed in an interior of the sealed container 1. As shown in
the enlarged sectional view taken along the line A-A,
irregularities are provided partially on an inner wall of the
sealed container 1, and the irregularities extend in an axial
direction of the sealed container 1. The heat receiving portion 2
contacts (is connected to) a heating source 9 and the heat
radiating portion 4 contacts (is connected to) a heat sink 10,
whereby heat is transmitted from the heating source 9 whose
temperature is high to the heat receiving portion 2 and is
transmitted further to the liquid 6 residing within the heat
receiving portion 2. The heat transmitted to the liquid 6 is
absorbed by the liquid 6 in the form of latent heat or the liquid 6
is evaporated or boiled, whereby vapor 7 is generated, and the
vapor 7 or the vapor 7 and the liquid 6 flow into the heat
radiating portion 4 via the heat insulating portion 3, where latent
heat possessed by the vapor 7 is emitted to the heat radiating
portion 4 while the vapor 7 is condensed, the heat so emitted being
radiated to the heat sink 10 whose temperature is lower than that
of the heat radiating portion. As this occurs, the condensed liquid
(the liquid 6) which is generated by the vapor 7 being condensed is
returned to the heat receiving portion 2 from the heat radiating
portion 4 via the heat insulating portion 3 by virtue of gravity or
capillary force. Heat generated in the heating source 9 is
transmitted (discharged) continuously to the heat sink 10 by
circulation of these vapor 7 and liquid 6. On the other hand, the
noncondensable gas 8 sealed within the interior of the sealed
container 1 is caused to move to the noncondensable gas reservoir
portion 5 or a portion of the heat radiating portion 4 which lies
to face the noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5 via the heat
insulating portion 3 and the heat radiating portion 4 as the vapor
7 or the vapor 7 and liquid 6 move and is accumulated to be
retained therein. In the event that the noncondensable gas 8 so
stays, the vapor 7 is made difficult to enter the noncondensable
gas 8, thereby an interface 11 being formed between the vapor 7 and
the noncondensable gas 8. The vapor 7 pushes the noncondensable gas
8 continuously, whereby the interface is caused to move, and the
pressures of the vapor 7 and the noncondensable gas 8 reach an
equilibrium state, whereupon the interface 11 stops moving, and its
position is stabilized. Consequently, when the interface 11 reaches
to be positioned in the noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5,
since the vapor 7 is condensed over the whole heat radiating
portion 4, a heat radiation capability of 100% can be obtained,
while when the interface 11 is positioned within the heat radiating
portion 4, since the area over which the vapor 7 is condensed (the
heat radiating area) is reduced, the heat radiating capability
decreases (the heat radiating capability is variable such that
0<heat radiating capability <100%). In addition, when the
interface 11 is positioned within the heat insulating portion 3 or
the heat receiving portion 2, heat can be insulated (the heat
radiating capability becoming 0%. However, since part of heat is
caused to move by conduction of heat which is transmitted through
the wall of the sealed container 1, in reality, although it is not
large, there is a capability of radiating heat. The description of
the operation of the variable conductance heat pipe that has been
made heretofore is based on the operation principle of the variable
conductance heat pipe.
[0022] The variable conductance heat pipe is configured such that
three types of fluids such as liquid, vapor and noncondensable gas
are sealed in the interior of the sealed container 1. Although the
noncondensable gas preferably stays within the interior of the
noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5 in principle, in reality,
the vapor and noncondensable gas stay therein in a mixed manner due
to molecular diffusion. In addition, when looking at the molecular
weights of gases which can be used as a noncondensable gas, the
molecular weight of neon is 20, nitrogen is 28, and argon is 40. In
the event that for example, water is used as a working fluid, the
molecular weight of water is 18, which is lighter than those of the
gases which can be used as the noncondensable gas, and therefore,
it becomes easy for the noncondensable gas 8 to stay in the heat
receiving portion 2 which is normally placed in the lower position
as a result of the effect of gravity, whereas it becomes easy for
the vapor 7 to stay in the noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5
which is normally placed in the upper position. Further, due to the
fact that the vapor may be condensed within the interior of the
noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5 or the liquid may flow into
the interior of the noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5 via the
heat radiating portion 4, in reality, there may be such a case that
the aforesaid three types of fluids coexist within the
noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5. These facts of the
noncondensable gas tending to stay in the heat receiving portion 2
and the liquid, vapor and noncondensable gas tending to coexist in
the noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5 do not cause any
particular problem with the storage, transportation and
installation of the variable conductance heat pipe. However, in
actually actuating and operating the variable conductance heat pipe
as a heat radiating device, due to the liquid residing in the
interior of the noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5, there
occurs a shortage of liquid in the interior of the heat receiving
portion 2, and the interior of the heat receiving portion 2 is
caused to be dried out, causing a problem of thermorunaway of the
temperature within the heat receiving portion 2. Consequently, the
variable conductance heat pipe must have the configuration in which
the liquid residing in the interior of the noncondensable gas
reservoir portion 5 always returns to the heat receiving portion 2
whenever the variable conductance heat pipe is put in use.
[0023] In a variable conductance heat pipe shown in FIG. 2 which
has the related-art configuration (whose difference from the
configuration according to Embodiment 1 will be described later),
however, in the event that a sealed container 1 is thin, when
liquid exists at an end portion of the sealed container 1, the
liquid so staying is made difficult to flow downwards by a
capillary force acting on a gas-liquid interface 14 which makes up
a boundary between a gas section 12 which contains vapor and a
noncondensable gas and a liquid section 13 in which liquid stays.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, when the end portion of the sealed
container 1 is filled with liquid, in the case of a normal heat
pipe which employs no noncondensable gas, since the liquid at the
end portion of the sealed container 1 is turned into vapor to be
expanded, the liquid is made easy to move. However, in the case of
the variable conductance heat pipe, since the noncondensable gas
resides in the gas section 12, the internal pressure in the gas
section 12 is not so small that the liquid at the end portion of
the sealed container 1 is turned into vapor, and even though the
liquid attempts to move towards the direction of the heat receiving
portion 2, no gas (condensable fluid, that is vapor) is generated
at the end portion of the sealed container 1 (vapor is attached to
the end portion of the sealed container 1 due to vacuum), and
therefore, it becomes difficult for the liquid to move as required.
Further, in the event that the liquid attempts to move, in the case
of the normal heat pipe which employs no noncondensable gas, there
is produced a state in which the pressure within the gas section 12
is not increased while the vapor in the interior of the gas section
12 is being condensed. However, in the case of the variable
conductance heat pipe, since the pressure within the gas section 12
is increased due to the noncondensable gas existing therein, the
movement of the liquid is interrupted. Because of this, there is
the possibility that the liquid within the heat receiving portion 2
to short, and the variable conductance heat pipe cannot be
activated to operate properly as a result that the liquid is liable
to stay in the noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5.
[0024] Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of Embodiment 1
will be described in detail by the use of FIG. 3. As shown in an
enlarged sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 3 (also in
the enlarged sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1), in
the variable conductance heat pipe of Embodiment 1, a portion 15
having water conveying property better than other portions is
provided within the cross section of the sealed container.
Specifically, the portion 15 having the better water conveying
property than other portions 16 is formed by providing
irregularities partially on an inner wall of the sealed container 1
in a circumferential direction as viewed in cross section thereof
in such a manner that recessed portions and raised portions extend
in an axial direction (a direction in which liquid and vapor move)
of the sealed container. Due to the non-uniformity in water
conveying property in the circumferential direction, a dome-shaped
liquid-liquid interface 11 like one shown in FIG. 1 is not formed
for some reason, and in the event that a liquid 6, that is, a
liquid section 13 exists in the vicinity of the noncondensable gas
reservoir portion 5 as shown in FIG. 3, the portion 15 having the
better water conveying property forms a non-uniform configuration
(a configuration that is not axisymmetric) where liquid sags and
runs partially. This liquid sagging and running portion
preferentially moves the liquid 6, and a gas section 12 and the
liquid section 13 are switched over without causing any pressure
increase within the gas section 12, whereby the liquid 6 moves to
the heat receiving portion 2, thereby allowing the variable
conductance heat pipe to operate properly.
[0025] On the other hand, the same advantage can also be provided
in the heat receiving portion 2. In the variable conductance heat
pipe having the related-art configuration as shown in FIG. 2 in
which no treatment or machining is applied to the inner wall of the
sealed container 1 so as to have the uniform water conveying
property along the circumferential direction, due to the
configuration inherent therein, the heat receiving portion 2 is not
always filled with the liquid, and in the event of a worst case,
there is a possibility that the heat receiving portion 2 is filled
with the noncondensable gas. In the event that the heat receiving
portion 2 is filled with the noncondensable gas, even though the
liquid attempts to flow into the heat receiving portion 2 from the
heat radiating portion 4, a gas-liquid interface 17 is formed
between the noncondensable gas and the liquid as shown in FIG. 2,
and a uniform capillary force is generated within the cross section
of the heat receiving portion 2 in the position where the
gas-liquid interface 17 is so formed, whereby the heat receiving
portion 2 is closed by the liquid which functions as a lid thereon.
When the heat receiving portion 2 is heated, the noncondensable gas
in the interior of the heat receiving portion 2 expands, whereby
the gas-liquid interface 17 is caused to move towards the heat
insulating portion 3. As this occurs, unless liquid exists in the
interior of heat receiving portion 2, the proper heat transport
that has been described above is not performed, and the temperature
within the heat receiving portion 2 is increased. As a result,
since no liquid flows into the heat receiving portion 2, the normal
operation of the variable conductance heat pipe is not attained. On
the other hand, in the configuration of the variable conductance
heat pipe according to Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 3 (also in FIG.
1), being different from the related-art configuration shown in
FIG. 2, since the portion 15 having the better water conveying
property exists partially in the circumferential direction within
the heat receiving portion 2 as viewed in cross section thereof, as
in the case of liquid residing in the noncondensable gas reservoir
portion 5, a dome-shaped gas-liquid interface 17 as one shown in
FIG. 2 is not formed due to the non-uniformity in water conveying
property in the circumferential direction, and the portion 15
having the better water conveying property forms a non-uniform
configuration (a configuration that is not axisymmetric) where
liquid sags and runs partially. This liquid sagging and running
portion preferentially moves the liquid, whereby the liquid is
caused to move to a distal end of the heat receiving portion 2. By
the liquid which has flowed into the distal end of the heat
receiving portion 2 being evaporated or boiled by being subjected
to heat from the heating source 9, vapor is generated, which sends
out the noncondensable gas which is staying in the heat receiving
portion 2 to the heat insulating portion 3, and the noncondensable
gas dispersed within the sealed container 1, in particular, the
noncondensable gas residing in the interior of the heat receiving
portion 2 is caused to move to the noncondensable gas reservoir
portion 5 for accumulation therein by the action of the variable
conductance heat pipe itself, so that the liquid can be
continuously supplied to the heat receiving portion 2, and vapor
can be continuously let out from the heat receiving portion 2,
thereby making it possible to make stable the operation of the
variable conductance heat pipe.
[0026] In addition to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the portion 15
having the better water conveying property can be realized by
deforming part of the inner wall of the sealed container 1 as
viewed in cross section into an unsmoothed configuration (a
configuration having a bent point as viewed in cross section, a
configuration having a point angled at an angle of 180 degrees or
larger or 180 degrees or smaller as viewed in cross section), or
such configurations as a teardrop configuration shown in FIG. 4A, a
gourd-like configuration shown in FIG. 4B, and a configuration
shown in FIG. 4C in which there are provided a plurality of
wedge-shaped flow paths. Further, the portion 15 having the better
water conveying property can also be realized by applying a
treatment for improving the water conveying property to part in the
circumferential direction of the inner wall of the sealed container
1 as viewed in cross section which includes a treatment in which
part of the inner wall is made to differ from the other portions
thereof in terms of hydrophilic nature, for example, a treatment in
which the surface roughness of the inner wall is partially
roughened, a treatment in which a UV treatment (surface
activation), oxidation treatment or ozonization treatment is
applied to part of the inner wall, and a treatment in which a water
repellent film is affixed to part of the inner wall.
[0027] The heating source 9 of Embodiment 1 may be such that heat
can be applied to the heat receiving portion 2 thereby, and there
is imposed no limitation on its dimensions and configuration. The
heating source 9 may be made up of a heating portion of electronic
equipment, a heater, a solid such as a heat radiating portion of a
heat transport device, a heat pump or a heat exchanger, or a fluid
such as a highly heated liquid and a highly heated gas. In
addition, the heating source 9 may also be made up of an object
which can apply heat to the heat receiving portion 2 through
radiation, including the sun, a highly heated object and the
like.
[0028] On the other hand, the heat sink 10 may be such that heat
can be received thereby from the heat radiating portion 4, and
there is no limitation on its dimensions and configuration. The
heat sink 10 may be made up of a fluid such as water and air or a
solid such as a heat receiving portion of a heat transport device,
a heat pump or a heat exchanger, soil, and a structure. In
addition, the heat sink 10 may also be made up of a substance lying
far which can be reached by making use of radiation.
[0029] The sealed container 1 is an airtight container which stores
liquid, vapor and noncondensable gas therein and may preferably be
made of a metal which does not induce any chemical reaction between
liquid and vapor and the inner wall of the sealed container 1. For
example, in the case of water being used as the liquid, copper is
preferably used as a material for the sealed container 1, and in
the case of ammonia water being used as the liquid, it is
recommendable to use a material such as aluminum or stainless steel
which does not produce a noncondensable gas through a chemical
reaction with the ammonia water as a material for the sealed
container 1.
[0030] The heat from the light source 9 is applied to and received
by the heat receiving portion 2 and has a function to conduct the
heat to the liquid. In addition, the heat receiving portion 2 may
have a structure (a porous material or a configuration provided on
the surface by which vapor is trapped) which promotes the boiling
of the liquid within in the heat receiving portion 2 provided on an
inner surface thereof.
[0031] The heat insulating portion 3 is a passage through which the
liquid, the vapor and the noncondensable gas move. The heat
insulating portion 3 may have its periphery exposed to a fluid such
as air or brought into contact with a structure to radiate heat
thereto. On the contrary, the heat insulating portion 3 may have a
heat insulating material provided thereon to insulate itself
against the loss of heat. The heat radiating portion 4 has a
function to get vapor condensed to be liquefied and radiate latent
heat emitted at that time to the heat sink 10. As shown in FIGS. 1
and 3, fins may be provided on an outer circumferential surface of
the heat radiating portion 4 in such a manner as to increase its
heat conducting surface in order to promote the radiation of heat
to the heat sink 10. It is noted that as has been described above,
there may be a case where the gas-liquid interface 15 is produced
to be positioned in the interiors of the heat insulating portion 3
and the heat radiating portion 4, and part of the gas-liquid
interface 15 so positioned plays a role of a passage or a container
which accommodates the noncondensable gas therein.
[0032] The noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5 has a function to
accommodate the noncondensable gas therein. There may be a case
where the noncondensable reservoir portion 5 accommodates therein
the liquid, vapor and noncondensable gas when the variable
conductance heat pipe is not in operation. The noncondensable gas
reservoir portion 5 is provided at an end portion of the variable
conductance heat pipe which lies farthest from the heat receiving
portion 2 with respect to the fluid passageway of the variable
conductance heat pipe. Preferably, a configuration may be adopted
in which the noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5 is provided at
an uppermost portion of the constituent part of the variable
conductance heat pipe, so that the liquid that has flowed thereinto
is allowed to flow downwards.
[0033] The liquid is a liquid which can boil, evaporate and
condense and may consist of a single-component fluid such as water
and ammonia or a multi-component fluid such as an anti-freeze. The
vapor is a gas resulting from vaporization of the liquid or part
thereof. The noncondensable gas is a gas which does not condense in
the working environment, and under the normal environment, helium,
argon, neon and nitrogen is used as the noncondensable gas.
Preferably, the noncondensable gas is a gas which does not
chemically react with the material of the sealed container 1, the
liquid, and the vapor, and an inactive gas is further preferably
used. In addition, a non-condensable gas may be used which is
generated by challengingly causing the sealed container 1 to react
with the liquid in an initial stage of sealing the liquid, vapor
and noncondensable gas into the sealed container 1.
Embodiment 2
[0034] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing schematically a variable
conductance heat pipe according to Embodiment 2. This variable
conductance heat pipe is configured such that an insertion member
19 is inserted into an interior of the variable conductance heat
pipe having the related-art configuration as shown in FIG. 2. The
interior of a sealed container 1 is divided into a flow path 20
having a larger cross-sectional area and a flow path 21 having a
smaller cross-sectional area by the insertion member 19, and a
gas-liquid interface is formed in each of those flow paths. In
addition, the larger cross-sectional area flow path 20 and the
smaller cross-sectional area flow path 21 have openings 18, and
since these openings 18 are made to extend continuously in an axial
direction (there will be no problem even in case there are
partially discontinued portions, that is, portions where the
insertion member 19 and an inner wall of the sealed container 1
contact each other), the openings 18 function as noncondensable gas
discharge passages and circumferential liquid suction ports. A
smaller capillary force is generated in the gas-liquid interface in
the larger cross-sectional area flow path 20, and a larger
capillary force is generated in the gas-liquid interface in the
smaller cross-sectional area flow path 21, whereby a
non-equilibrium state of capillary force is produced within the
flow paths in the same cross section. Consequently, a liquid
staying at an end portion of the sealed container 1 moves towards
the larger capillary force flow path 21 (a gas-liquid interface 14
within the flow path 21 moves towards a heat receiving portion 2),
and a gas-liquid interface in the smaller capillary force flow path
20 moves towards the end portion of the sealed container 1. Namely,
the smaller cross-sectional area flow path 21 configures a portion
which has water conveying property better than those of the larger
cross-sectional area flow path 20 and configures a passage through
which the liquid flows. By this configuration, when the variable
conductance heat pipe is in operation, the same operating
conditions as those described in Embodiment 1 are produced in which
an appropriate amount of water exists within the heat receiving
portion 2, thereby making it possible to establish stable actuation
and operation of the variable conductance heat pipe.
[0035] On the other hand, the same advantage is also provided in
the interior of the heat receiving portion, and being different
from the variable conductance heat pipe having the related-art
configuration which is shown in FIG. 2, an insertion member 19 is
mounted within a heat receiving portion 2, so that the interior of
the heat receiving portion 2 is divided into a flow path 20 having
a larger cross-sectional area and a flow path 21 having a smaller
cross-sectional area, whereby a non-equilibrium state of capillary
force is produced within the flow paths in the same cross section.
Consequently, the flow path 21 having a larger capillary force is
filled with a liquid 6 (a distal end of the heat receiving portion
2 contacts the liquid 6), while a noncondensable gas stays within
the flow path 20 having a smaller capillary force. In If the
variable conductance heat pipe operates, when heat is applied to
the heat receiving portion 2, due to the liquid being made to
contact the distal end of the heat receiving portion 2, vapor is
generated from an end portion of the heat receiving portion 2, and
when the vapor so generated is caused to move to a heat radiating
portion 4 via a heat insulating portion 3, the noncondensable gas
staying in the flow path 20 is caused to move towards a
noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5. In this way, the
noncondensable gas which is being dispersed within the sealed
container 1, in particular, the noncondensable gas residing in the
interior of the heat receiving portion 2 is caused to move to the
noncondensable gas reservoir portion 5 to be accumulated therein by
the operation of the variable conductance heat pipe itself, whereby
the liquid can be supplied to the heat receiving portion 2
continuously and the vapor can be sent out continuously from the
heat receiving portion 2, thereby making it possible to make stable
the operation of the variable conductance heat pipe.
[0036] The insertion member 19 only has to be inserted into the
interior of the sealed container 1 in such a manner that the
non-equilibrium state of capillary force is formed within the same
cross section of the sealed container 1, that an exclusive passage
for the liquid 6 is provided in such a manner as to extend along
the inner wall of the sealed container 1, and that the insertion
member 19 has openings 18 which extends axially along the full
length or part of the exclusive passage to function as
noncondensable gas discharge passages and circumferential liquid
suction ports, and the insertion member 19 may be made up of a
board which is inserted eccentrically into the sealed container 1.
It is noted that in the event that an exclusive passage for the
liquid 6 which does not have the openings 18 is provided in the
cross section of the sealed container 1 in such a manner as to
completely partition the cross section, the noncondensable gas
flows into in an interior of the exclusive passage to stay therein
so as to produce a gas-liquid interface between the liquid and the
noncondensable gas within the exclusive passage, whereby the liquid
6 cannot flow through the exclusive passage due to a capillary
force acting on the interface, and consequently, the variable
conductance heat pipe becomes out of operation.
[0037] It is noted that while in FIG. 5, the board-like material
having a concave surface is shown as the configuration of the
insertion member 19, the insertion member 19 may be made up of a
flat board-like material or may be made up of a material such as a
piece of punched sheet metal or a wire mesh. Further, as the
cross-sectional configuration of the insertion member 19, a V-shape
configuration like one shown in FIG. 6 or a W-shape configuration
may be adopted. In the case of these V-shape and W-shape
configurations being adopted, there is provided an advantage that
once inserted into the sealed container 1, the insertion member 19
is fixed in place and is made stationary. In this way, as long as
the interior of the sealed container 1 is divided into the larger
cross-sectional area flow path 20 and the smaller cross-sectional
area flow path 21 which have the openings 18, as the
cross-sectional configuration of the insertion member 19, any
configuration may be adopted.
[0038] Further, while in FIG. 5, the sealed container 1 is
illustrated as being made up of a straight tube, as shown in FIG.
7, the sealed container 1 may be bent at one end portion thereof so
as to provide a bent portion somewhere along the length of the heat
insulating portion 3. In this case, there is provided an advantage
that once inserted into the interior of the sealed container 1, the
insertion member 19 is fixed in place so as to be stationary
therein. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, a board-like material
having a portion where its width is expanded at an intermediate
position along the length thereof may be used as the insertion
member 19, and in the event that the board-like material is
inserted into the interior of the sealed container 1 in such a
manner that the width expanded portion is positioned somewhere in
the bent portion, there is provided an advantage that the insertion
member is fixed in place. This insertion member 19 which has the
configuration in which the intermediate portion is expanded in
width is, needless to say, advantageous not only in the sealed
container 1 having the bent portion shown in FIG. 7 but also in the
straight tube shown in FIG. 3. Further, by bending or curving the
width expanded portion of the insertion member 19 which is provided
in the intermediate position thereof, there is provided an
advantage, particularly when the insertion member 19 is inserted
into the straight tube, that the insertion member 19 can be fixed
in the eccentric position within the sealed container 1 in an
ensured manner. In addition to the modified configurations of the
insertion member 19, normally adopted various configuration can be
adopted as the configuration in which the insertion member 19 is
fixed in the eccentric position which include a configuration in
which as shown in FIG. 9, the insertion member 19 can be inserted
eccentrically into the sealed container 1 while being bent at end
portions thereof, or the insertion member 19 is inserted to stay in
the eccentric position within the sealed container 1 with a spacer
or spacers which are disposed separately (to keep the insertion
member 19 separate from the inner wall of the sealed container
1).
Embodiment 3
[0039] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross
section taken orthogonal to an axis of a variable conductance heat
pipe according to Embodiment 3 of the invention. A rod 19 which is
dense in cross section as shown in FIG. 10 may be inserted
eccentrically in a sealed container 1. In this case, a space which
is narrowed between the rod and the sealed container 1 configures a
portion having water conveying property better than other portions.
In place of the rod shown in FIG. 10, a stranded wire may be used,
and in the stranded wire, narrow spaces defined between constituent
twisted wires also configure portions having better water conveying
property. Further, in place of the straight rod, an insertion
member which is made of a thin wire which is formed into a spiral
configuration may be used to be inserted in such a manner as to
extend along an inner wall of the sealed container 1. In this case,
a portion having better water conveying property is formed
spirally.
[0040] An oxygen free copper is preferably used as the material of
the insertion member 19 shown in Embodiments 2 and 3, and when an
oxygen free copper is used which is washed using acetone to remove
deposits on a surface thereof and is thereafter subjected to an
oxidation treatment under a high temperature the water conveying
property of the smaller cross-sectional area flow path 21 can be
improved further.
[0041] In addition, in Embodiments 2 and 3, grooves may be provided
axially on the inner wall of the sealed container 1 so as to
produce an irregular surface thereon. The grooves may be provided
uniformly in the circumferential direction or may be provided
non-uniformly, and moreover, the grooves may be provided in a
spiral manner.
[0042] As has been described heretofore, the portion having better
water conveying property according to the invention can be realized
by, as is described in Embodiment 1, providing partially the
irregularities on the inner wall of the sealed container or
deforming part of the inner wall so as to form on part of the
surface of the inner wall the portion where liquid expands axially
better than the other portions on the surface of the inner wall. In
addition, the portion having better water conveying property can
also be realized by applying to part of the surface of the inner
wall a treatment which improves the hydrophilic nature. Further, as
has been described in Embodiments 2 and 3, the portion having
better water conveying property can also be realized by inserting
the insertion member into the sealed container so as to define the
narrow space between the insertion member and the inner wall of the
sealed container. Note that to determine whether or not a specific
portion on the inner wall has better water conveying property than
the other portions thereon, liquid is dropped on to the specific
portion to see whether or not the liquid expands axially longer
than on the other portions, and if this is determined true, the
specific portion can be determined as having the better water
conveying property.
[0043] The invention described based on Embodiments 1 to 3 is
largely advantageous particularly for a thin sealed container in
which the movement of a working fluid is made difficult due to the
surface tension of the working fluid. For example, in the case of
the working fluid being water, the invention is advantageous when
the diameter of the sealed container is on the order of 10 mm or
smaller and is more advantageous particularly for a sealed
container having a small diameter of the order of 6 mm or smaller.
Consequently, the invention is suitable for an application where
the quantity of heat is small which can be transported by a single
variable conductance heat pipe and is suitable for cooling, for
example, a semiconductor laser whose output is on the order of
several watts. In the semiconductor laser, since the oscillation
frequency and output of the semiconductor laser is largely affected
by a change in temperature when it is actuated, the property of a
variable conductance heat pipe in which a change in temperature at
a heat receiving portion is small when a heating source is actuated
can effectively be made use of, and from this view point, such a
variable conductance heat pipe can be said to configure a suitable
application for the invention.
[0044] While the present invention has been shown and described
with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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