U.S. patent application number 12/626620 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-21 for heat pipe structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to ASIA VITAL COMPONENTS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Shyy-Woei Chang, Kuei-Feng Chiang.
Application Number | 20110088872 12/626620 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43878401 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110088872 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang; Shyy-Woei ; et
al. |
April 21, 2011 |
HEAT PIPE STRUCTURE
Abstract
A heat pipe structure includes a pipe body and a convection
device. The pipe body defines a chamber enclosed in an inner wall
of the pipe body. The convection device includes a rotary unit and
a driving unit for creating a fluid pressure gradient in the
chamber of the pipe body. The rotary unit and the driving unit are
respectively located at an interior and an exterior of the pipe
body. When the driving unit is excited, the rotary unit is driven
to rotate under magnetic induction. With the fluid pressure
gradient created in the chamber of the pipe body, the circulation
of the working fluid in the chamber can be improved, and a forced
convection flow of the working fluid in the pipe body is enabled to
largely increase the heat transfer efficiency and heat transfer
effect of the heat pipe.
Inventors: |
Chang; Shyy-Woei; (Sinjhuang
City, TW) ; Chiang; Kuei-Feng; (Sinjhuang City,
TW) |
Assignee: |
ASIA VITAL COMPONENTS CO.,
LTD.
Sinjhuang City
TW
|
Family ID: |
43878401 |
Appl. No.: |
12/626620 |
Filed: |
November 26, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/104.25 ;
165/104.26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 2250/08 20130101;
Y02P 80/156 20151101; Y02P 80/10 20151101; F28D 15/043 20130101;
F28D 15/06 20130101; F28D 2015/0291 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/104.25 ;
165/104.26 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/02 20060101
F28D015/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 16, 2009 |
TW |
098219100 |
Claims
1. A heat pipe structure, comprising: a pipe body defining a
chamber enclosed in an inner wall of the pipe body; and a
convection device including a rotary unit and a driving unit, which
are respectively arranged at an interior and an exterior of the
pipe body.
2. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
rotary unit is fitted in the chamber and includes a ring body and a
blade assembly; the ring body having an outer side and an inner
side, the outer side being faced toward the inner wall of the pipe
body and having a plurality of magnetic bodies provided thereon,
and the blade assembly being mounted to the inner side of the ring
body; and wherein the driving unit is externally mounted around the
pipe body and has a plurality of magnetic poles formed thereon to
correspond to the rotary unit.
3. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of
the magnetic poles includes a plurality of silicon steel plates
wound around by a plurality of coils.
4. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the blade
assembly includes a hub and a plurality of blades; and each of the
blades having a first end connected to the hub and a second end
connected to the inner side of the ring body.
5. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
rotary unit includes a movable blade set, a fixed blade set, a
first hub, a first shaft base, a bearing, and a rotary shaft; the
movable blade set including a plurality of blades, each of which
has a first end connected to the first hub and a free second end;
the bearing being received in the first hub; the fixed blade set
including a plurality of blades, each of which has a third end
connected to the first shaft base and a fourth end connected to the
inner side of the ring body; and the rotary shaft having an end
inserted in the bearing and another end rotatably connected to the
first shaft base.
6. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
chamber is filled with a working fluid.
7. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ring
body has a plurality of first teeth formed on the outer side
thereof, and a space being formed between two adjacent first teeth
for receiving one of the magnetic bodies therein.
8. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ring
body has a plurality of second teeth formed on the outer side
thereof, and each of the second teeth being formed at a free end
thereof with a recess for receiving a ball therein.
9. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pipe
body further includes a first working section and a second working
section.
10. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pipe
body further includes an evaporating end and a condensing end.
11. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the
first working section includes a first portion and a second
portion, which are serially connected to each other; the first
portion being made of a material selected from the group consisting
of a copper material and an aluminum material; and the second
portion being made of a polymeric material.
12. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the
second working section includes a third portion and a fourth
portion, which are serially connected to each other; the third
portion being made of a material selected from the group consisting
of a copper material and an aluminum material; and the fourth
portion being made of a polymeric material.
13. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
rotary unit and the driving unit are arranged on the second
portion.
14. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the
rotary unit and the driving unit are arranged on the fourth
portion.
15. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
polymeric material is Teflon.
16. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the
polymeric material is Teflon.
17. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
polymeric material is Teflon.
18. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein the
polymeric material is Teflon.
Description
[0001] The application claim the priority benefit of Taiwan patent
application number 098219100 filed on Oct. 16, 2009.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a heat pipe structure, and
more particularly to a heat pipe structure that includes a heat
pipe having a convection device arranged thereon to produce force
convection of working fluid in the heat pipe to thereby largely
upgrade the heat transfer efficiency of the heat pipe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A heat pipe is a special material that enables rapid
temperature equalization. The heat pipe is a hollow metal tubular
body and is therefore very low in weight. With the ability of rapid
temperature equalization thereof, the heat pipe enables excellent
performance of super heat transfer. The heat pipe has been widely
applied in many different fields. In the early stage, the heat pipe
was employed in the aviation and space industrial field. Now, the
heat pipe has been widely employed in heat exchangers, coolers,
apparatus for extraction of geothermal energy, etc. to play an
important role of rapid heat transfer. The heat pipe has also been
considered as the most efficient heat transfer element (not heat
dissipation element) in the heat dissipating devices for electronic
products.
[0004] Basically, the heat pipe is a sealed chamber having a
working fluid contained therein. With the constant change of the
working fluid in the chamber between the liquid phase and the vapor
phase, and the convection of the vapor-phase and liquid-phase
working fluid between a heat-receiving end and a heat-releasing end
of the heat pipe, the principle of low-pressure boiling is utilized
to transfer heat on the inner surface of the chamber at the
heat-receiving end, so as to increase the heat transfer coefficient
at the heat-receiving end and achieve the object of heat transfer
through rapid temperature equalization. According to the working
mechanism of the heat pipe, a local high pressure is produced at
the instant the working fluid in the liquid phase is evaporated at
the heat-receiving end and converted into the vapor phase, driving
the vapor-phase working fluid to flow toward the heat-releasing
end, at where the vapor-phase working fluid is condensed into
liquid phase again. Through the force of gravity, the capillary
action, the centrifugal force and so on, the liquid-phase working
fluid flows back to the heat-receiving end again. And, through the
liquid/vapor phase cycle, the working fluid keeps circulating in
the heat pipe.
[0005] From the above description, it is understood the vapor-phase
working fluid in the heat pipe is driven to flow by a pressure
difference, while the liquid-phase working fluid requires a
properly designed backflow driving force according to the working
state of the heat pipe in use.
[0006] According to an ideal working state of the heat pipe, the
working fluid is in the liquid phase and the vapor phase at the
same time with only a very small temperature difference existed
between the two phases. That is, the whole chamber of the heat pipe
is in a temperature equalized state. At this point, even if there
is heat transmitted to the chamber of the heat pipe system due to a
temperature difference between the external environment and the
chamber, the temperature at the heat-receiving end and the
heat-releasing end of the heat pipe chamber is the same. As a
result, the condition of super heat transfer at equalized
temperature occurs.
[0007] However, the above-described heat pipe operating principle
exists only in an ideal condition, and the liquid/vapor phase cycle
in the conventional heat pipe exists only through the capillary
structure inside the heat pipe and an external heat source.
Therefore, the heat transfer efficiency of the conventional heat
pipe is not so good due to the limited liquid/vapor phase cycle in
the heat pipe.
[0008] It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a heat pipe
structure that is able to provide increased heat transfer
efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
heat pipe structure capable of providing increased heat transfer
efficiency.
[0010] To achieve the above and other objects, the heat pipe
structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention includes a pipe body and a convection device. The pipe
body defines a chamber enclosed in an inner wall of the pipe body.
The convection device includes a rotary unit and a driving unit
respectively located at an interior and an exterior of the pipe
body. When the driving unit is excited, the rotary unit is driven
to rotate under magnetic induction. When the rotary unit rotates, a
forced convection occurs in the chamber of the pipe body to thereby
improve the heat transfer efficiency of the heat pipe and obtain
excellent heat transfer effect. Therefore, the present invention
provides the following advantages: (1) creating the effect of
forced convection; and (2) providing excellent heat transfer
efficiency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The structure and the technical means adopted by the present
invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best
understood by referring to the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings,
wherein
[0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a heat pipe
structure according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a rotary unit for a heat pipe
structure according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a first example of
application of the heat pipe structure of the present invention and
the working manner thereof;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a second example of
application of the heat pipe structure of the present invention and
the working manner thereof; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a third example of
application of the heat pipe structure of the present invention and
the working manner thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 that are exploded and
assembled perspective views, respectively, of a heat pipe structure
according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown,
the heat pipe structure 1 in the first embodiment includes a pipe
body 11 and a convection device 12.
[0019] The pipe body 11 defines a chamber 111 enclosed in an inner
wall 112 of the pipe body 11. On the inner wall 112, at least one
capillary structure layer (not shown) is provided. The capillary
structure layer can be formed by sintering copper particles or
aluminum particles on the inner wall 112. The chamber 111 is filled
with a working fluid (not shown), which can be water or a coolant
liquid.
[0020] The convection device 12 includes a rotary unit 121 and a
driving unit 122, which are respectively arranged at an interior
and an exterior of the inner wall 112 of the chamber 111 of the
pipe body 11.
[0021] The rotary unit 121 is arranged in the chamber 111, and
includes a ring body 1211 and a blade assembly 1212.
[0022] The ring body 1211 includes an outer side 1211a facing
toward the inner wall 112 of the chamber 111 and provided with a
plurality of magnetic bodies 1211c, and an inner side 1211b. The
blade assembly 1212 is located in the ring body 1211.
[0023] On the outer side 1211a of the ring body 1211, there is
formed a plurality of first teeth 1211d, which are radially outward
extended from the outer side 1211a of the ring body 1211. A space
1211e is formed between two adjacent first teeth 1211d for
receiving one of the magnetic bodies 1211c therein.
[0024] On the outer side 1211a of the ring body 1211, there is also
formed a plurality of second teeth 1211f, which are radially
outward extended from the outer side 1211a of the ring body 1211.
Each of the second teeth 1211f is formed at a free end thereof with
a recess 1211g for receiving a ball 1211h therein. The balls 1211h
are rotatable between the recesses 1211g and the inner wall 112 of
the pipe body 11. The balls 1211h and the recesses 1211g cooperate
with one another to serve as bearings. Since the balls 1211h are in
point contact with the recesses 1211g and the inner wall 112 of the
pipe body 11 to enable a low friction coefficient between them, the
rotary unit 121 is advantageously allowed to smoothly rotate
relative to the inner wall 112 of the pipe body 11.
[0025] The blade assembly 1212 includes a hub 1212a and a plurality
of blades 1212b. Each of the blades 1212b has a first end 1212c
connected to the hub 1212a, and a second end 1212d connected to the
inner side 1211b of the ring body 1211.
[0026] The driving unit 122 is externally fitted around the pipe
body 11, and has a plurality of magnetic poles 1221 corresponding
to the rotary unit 121. Each of the magnetic poles 1221 is formed
from a plurality of silicon steel plates 1222 wound around by a
plurality of coils (not shown). The magnetic poles 1221 are
arranged corresponding to the magnetic bodies 1211c on the rotary
unit 121. When an electric current is supplied to the magnetic
poles 1221, the magnetic poles 1221 are excited to drive the rotary
unit 121 and accordingly, the blade assembly 1212 to rotate.
[0027] When the rotary unit 121 is driven to rotate, the blade
assembly 1212 is brought to rotate at the same time to thereby
produce forced convection in the heat pipe structure 1, which
largely upgrades the heat transfer efficiency of the heat pipe
structure 1.
[0028] Please refer to FIG. 3 that is a sectional view showing a
rotary unit for a second embodiment of the present invention. As
shown, in the second embodiment, the rotary unit includes a blade
assembly 2 that includes a movable blade set 21, a fixed blade set
22, a first hub 23, a first shaft base 24, a bearing 25, and a
rotary shaft 26.
[0029] The movable blade set 21 has a plurality of blades 27, each
of which has a first end 27a connected to the first hub 23 and a
free second end 27b.
[0030] The bearing 25 is received in the first hub 23.
[0031] The fixed blade set 22 has a plurality of blades 28, each of
which has a third end 28a connected to the first shaft base 24 and
a fourth end 28b connected to the inner side 1211b of the ring body
1211.
[0032] The rotary shaft 26 has an end inserted in the bearing 25
and another end rotatably connected to the first shaft base 24.
[0033] Please refer to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The pipe body 11 includes
a first working section 3, a second working section 4, an
evaporating end 5, and a condensing end 6. The rotary unit 121 and
the driving unit 122 are selectively arranged at the first working
section 3 as shown in FIG. 4, at the second working section 4 as
shown in FIG. 5, or at both of the first and the second working
section 3, 4 as shown in FIG. 6.
[0034] The first working section 3 includes a first portion 31 and
a second portion 32, which are serially connected to each other.
The first portion 31 is made of a copper material or an aluminum
material; and the second portion 32 is made of a polymeric
material.
[0035] The second working section 4 includes a third portion 41 and
a fourth portion 42, which are serially connected to each other.
The third portion 41 is made of a copper material or an aluminum
material; and the fourth portion 42 is made of a polymeric
material.
[0036] The rotary unit 121 and the driving unit 122 are arranged on
one or both of the second portion 32 and the fourth portion 42.
Since the rotary unit 121 is driven to rotate when a magnetic
induction is produced between the rotary unit 121 and the driving
unit 122, the use of a polymeric material to make the second
portion 32 and the fourth portion 42 can advantageously avoid
interference with the magnetic induction between the rotary unit
121 and the driving unit 122. The polymeric material for forming
the second and the fourth portion 32, 42 can be Teflon, for
example.
[0037] Please refer to FIG. 4 that shows a first example of
application of the present invention. As shown, in the first
example of application, the rotary unit 121 and the driving unit
122, which work together to serve as a pump, are arranged at the
first working section 3. When the driving unit 122 is excited to
drive the rotary unit 121 to rotate, a forced convection occurs at
the evaporating end 5, bringing the vapor at the evaporating end 5
to flow toward the condensing end 6 at increased convection
efficiency to thereby upgrade the overall heat transfer efficiency
of the heat pipe structure 1.
[0038] Please refer to FIG. 5 that shows a second example of
application of the present invention. As shown, in the second
example of application, the rotary unit 121 and the driving unit
122, which work together to serve as a pump, are arranged at the
second working section 4. Similarly, when the driving unit 122 is
excited to drive the rotary unit 121 to rotate, a forced convection
occurs at the condensing end 6, bringing the liquid at the
condensing end 6 to flow toward the evaporating end 5 at increased
convection efficiency to thereby upgrade the overall heat transfer
efficiency of the heat pipe structure 1.
[0039] FIG. 6 shows a third example of application of the present
invention. As shown, in the third example of application, two sets
of the rotary unit 121 and driving unit 122, which work together to
serve as a pump, are separately arranged at the first and the
second working section 3, 4. Similarly, when the driving units 122
are excited to drive the rotary units 121 to rotate, forced
convection occurs at both of the evaporating end 5 and the
condensing end 6 to largely upgrade the heat transfer coefficient
and the heat transfer efficiency of the heat pipe structure 1.
[0040] Unlike the conventional heat pipe that relies on only the
capillary structure to cycle the vapor and liquid phases in the
heat pipe, the heat pipe structure 1 according to the present
invention is provided with the convection device 12 to achieve even
better heat transfer effect.
[0041] The present invention has been described with some preferred
embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and
modifications in the described embodiments can be carried out
without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention
that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.
* * * * *