U.S. patent application number 13/299690 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-23 for heat pipe structure.
The applicant listed for this patent is Chih-Peng Chen. Invention is credited to Chih-Peng Chen.
Application Number | 20130126131 13/299690 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48425675 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130126131 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Chih-Peng |
May 23, 2013 |
HEAT PIPE STRUCTURE
Abstract
A heat pipe structure includes a first tubular body and a second
tubular body. The first tubular body has a first chamber and a
working fluid. A first capillary structure is disposed on outer
circumference of the second tubular body. The second tubular body
is disposed in the first chamber and has a second chamber. In the
heat pipe structure, the vapor-phase working fluid flows within the
first chamber, while the liquid-phase working fluid flows within
the second chamber in separation from the vapor-phase working
fluid. Accordingly, the impedance against the vapor is greatly
reduced and the heat transfer efficiency is greatly enhanced to
achieve excellent heat dissipation effect.
Inventors: |
Chen; Chih-Peng; (New Taipei
City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Chen; Chih-Peng |
New Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
48425675 |
Appl. No.: |
13/299690 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/104.26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/046
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/104.26 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/04 20060101
F28D015/04 |
Claims
1. A heat pipe structure comprising: a first tubular body having a
first chamber and a working fluid; a second tubular body disposed
in the first chamber and having a second chamber; and a first
capillary structure disposed on outer circumference of the second
tubular body.
2. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second
capillary structure is disposed in the first chamber.
3. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
tubular body has an evaporation end at one end for contacting at
least one heat source and a condensation end at the other end
opposite to the evaporation end.
4. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
capillary structure is selected from a group consisting of a
sintered powder body, a structure formed with multiple channels, a
mesh body and a coating.
5. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
second capillary structure is selected from a group consisting of a
sintered
6. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
working fluid is selected from a group consisting of pure water,
coolant and acetone.
7. The heat pipe structure as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a first section and a second section disposed at two
ends of the first tubular body respectively, the first and second
sections communicating with the first and second chambers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a heat pipe
structure, and more particularly to an improved heat pipe structure
having multiple chambers, whereby the vapor-phase working fluid and
the liquid-phase working fluid independently separately flow within
different chambers to transfer heat. Accordingly, the heat transfer
effect is greatly enhanced to achieve better heat dissipation
effect.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Following the continuous development of scientific and
technical industries, the operation speed and performance of all
kinds of electronic components have been continuously enhanced. In
the meantime, the waste heat generated by the electronic products
has become higher and higher. In the conventional heat dissipation
devices, heat pipe is a simple but very effective heat dissipation
means. The heat pipe can quickly transfer a large amount of heat
via latent heat. The heat pipe has the advantages of uniform
distribution of temperature, simple structure, small size, light
weight, no external action force, long lifetime, multiuse, etc.
Therefore, different kinds of heat pipes have been widely applied
in various fields for dissipating heat.
[0005] The heat pipe has an evaporation end and a condensation end
and an internal vacuumed chamber in which a working fluid is
filled. The working fluid relatively has a lower boiling point due
to the vacuumed state of the chamber. The heat is transferred via
the latent heat by means of phase change between liquid phase and
vapor phase of the working fluid. At the evaporation end, the
working fluid carries away a large amount of heat from a heat
source via latent heat. The vapor is full in the vacuumed chamber
and is condensed into a liquid at the condensation end to release
heat. Through the capillary attraction of the capillary structure
in the chamber, the liquid working fluid flows back to the
evaporation end to complete the phase change circulation.
Accordingly, the vapor-liquid circulation is continued to
effectively transfer the heat generated by the heat source to a
remote end for heat exchange.
[0006] The conventional heat pipe generally has one single chamber
and one single capillary structure so that the heat transfer
efficiency of the conventional heat pipe is limited. Moreover, the
liquid phase working fluid and the vapor phase working fluid are
mixed in the same sealed chamber. The backflow of the liquid will
obstruct the vapor from smoothly flowing to deteriorate the heat
transfer efficiency. Accordingly, the conventional heat pipe has
the following shortcomings:
[0007] 1. The heat transfer efficiency is poor.
[0008] 2. The vapor-liquid circulation efficiency of the working
fluid is poor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A primary object of the present invention is to provide an
improved heat pipe structure, which has better heat transfer
performance and is able to achieve excellent heat dissipation
effect.
[0010] To achieve the above and other objects, the heat pipe
structure of the present invention includes a first tubular body, a
second tubular body and a first capillary structure.
[0011] The first tubular body has a first chamber and a working
fluid. The second tubular body is disposed in the first chamber and
has a second chamber.
[0012] The first capillary structure is disposed on outer
circumference of the second tubular body.
[0013] At least one end of the heat pipe is in contact with a heat
source for absorbing the heat generated by the heat source. When
the end of the heat pipe is heated, the working fluid in the heat
pipe is evaporated and converted from liquid phase into vapor
phase. The vapor working fluid then flows through second chamber to
the other end of the heat pipe. After reaching the other end, the
vapor working fluid is cooled and condensed into the liquid working
fluid. The liquid working fluid then flows through the first
capillary structure back to the original end of the heat pipe.
Accordingly, the vapor-liquid circulation of the working fluid is
continuously performed to dissipate the heat.
[0014] In the heat pipe structure of the present invention, the
vapor-phase working fluid and the liquid-phase working fluid
independently separately flow within different chambers to transfer
heat. Accordingly, the heat transfer efficiency is greatly
enhanced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] 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:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first
embodiment of the heat pipe structure of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of
the heat pipe structure of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of circled area A of FIG.
2A;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the
heat pipe structure of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second
embodiment of the heat pipe structure of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment
of the heat pipe structure of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of circled area B of FIG.
5A;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the
heat pipe structure of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third
embodiment of the heat pipe structure of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of
the heat pipe structure of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of circled area C of FIG. 8A;
and
[0027] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the third embodiment of the
heat pipe structure of the present invention; and
[0028] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the
heat pipe structure of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal
sectional view of a first embodiment of the heat pipe structure of
the present invention. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the
first embodiment of the heat pipe structure of the present
invention. FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of circled area A of FIG.
2A. According to the first embodiment, the heat pipe structure of
the present invention includes a first tubular body 10, a second
tubular body 20 and a first capillary structure 202.
[0030] The first tubular body 10 has a first chamber 101 and a
working fluid 2.
[0031] The second tubular body 20 is disposed in the first chamber
101 and has a second chamber 201.
[0032] The first capillary structure 202 is disposed on outer
circumference of the second tubular body 20. The first capillary
structure 202 is selected from a group consisting of a sintered
powder body, a structure formed with multiple channels, a mesh body
and a coating. In this embodiment, the first capillary structure
202 is, but not limited to, a sintered powder body for illustration
purposes only.
[0033] The first tubular body 10 has an evaporation end 11 at one
end and a condensation end 12 at the other end opposite to the
evaporation end 11.
[0034] Please refer to FIG. 3. The evaporation end 11 is in contact
with a heat source 3 for absorbing the heat generated by the heat
source 3 and transferring the heat to the working fluid 2 in the
first tubular body 10. At this time, the working fluid 2 in the
first tubular body 10 is evaporated and converted from the original
liquid phase into vapor phase. Accordingly, a large amount of heat
is transferred from the evaporation end 11 to the condensation end
12 with a heat sink 5. The vapor working fluid 21 will enter the
second chamber 201 to flow toward the condensation end 12 opposite
to the evaporation end 11. After flowing to the condensation end
12, the vapor working fluid 21 is cooled and condensed into the
liquid phase. The liquid working fluid 22 then flows through the
first capillary structure 202 on the outer circumference of the
second tubular body 20 back to the evaporation end 11. Accordingly,
the liquid phase-vapor phase circulation of the working fluid 2 is
continued in a separate state.
[0035] By means of the above arrangement, the heat transfer
efficiency of the heat pipe structure can be greatly enhanced.
[0036] Please refer to FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal
sectional view of a second embodiment of the heat pipe structure of
the present invention. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the
second embodiment of the heat pipe structure of the present
invention. FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of circled area B of FIG.
5A. According to the second embodiment, the heat pipe structure of
the present invention includes a first tubular body 10, a second
tubular body 20 and a second capillary structure 102. The first
tubular body 10 has a first chamber 101 and a working fluid 2. The
second capillary structure 102 is disposed in the first chamber
101. The second capillary structure 102 is selected from a group
consisting of a sintered powder body, a structure formed with
multiple channels, a mesh body and a coating. In this embodiment,
the first capillary structure 202 is, but not limited to, a
structure formed with multiple channels for illustration purposes
only.
[0037] The second tubular body 20 is disposed in the first chamber
101 and has a second chamber 201. The first tubular body 10 has an
evaporation end 11 at one end and a condensation end 12 at the
other end opposite to the evaporation end 11.
[0038] Please refer to FIG. 6. The evaporation end 11 is in contact
with a heat source 3 for absorbing the heat generated by the heat
source 3 and transferring the heat to the working fluid 2 in the
first tubular body 10. At this time, the working fluid 2 in the
first tubular body 10 is evaporated and converted from the original
liquid phase into vapor phase. Accordingly, a large amount of heat
is transferred from the evaporation end 11 to the condensation end
12 with a heat sink 5. The vapor working fluid 21 will enter the
second chamber 201 to flow toward the condensation end 12 opposite
to the evaporation end 11. After flowing to the condensation end
12, the vapor working fluid 21 is cooled and condensed into the
liquid phase. The liquid working fluid 22 then flows through the
second capillary structure 102 in the first chamber 101 back to the
evaporation end 11. Accordingly, the liquid phase-vapor phase
circulation of the working fluid 2 is continued in a separate
state.
[0039] By means of the above arrangement, the heat transfer
efficiency of the heat pipe structure can be greatly enhanced.
[0040] Please refer to FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal
sectional view of a third embodiment of the heat pipe structure of
the present invention. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the
third embodiment of the heat pipe structure of the present
invention. FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of circled area C of FIG.
8A. The third embodiment is substantially identical to the first
and second embodiments in component and relationship between the
components and thus will not be repeatedly described hereinafter.
The third embodiment is different from the first and second
embodiments in that both the first and second tubular bodies 10, 20
respectively have the first and second capillary structures 202,
102. The first capillary structure 202 is disposed on the outer
circumference of the second tubular body 20, while the second
capillary structure 102 is disposed in the first chamber 101. The
first and second capillary structures 202, 102 are selected from a
group consisting of sintered powder bodies, structures formed with
multiple channels, mesh bodies and coatings. In this embodiment,
the first and second capillary structures 202, 102 are, but not
limited to, structures formed with multiple channels for
illustration purposes only.
[0041] Please refer to FIG. 9. The evaporation end 11 is in contact
with a heat source 3 for absorbing the heat generated by the heat
source 3 and transferring the heat to the working fluid 2 in the
first tubular body 10. At this time, the working fluid 2 in the
first tubular body 10 is evaporated and converted from the original
liquid phase into vapor phase. Accordingly, a large amount of heat
is transferred from the evaporation end 11 to the condensation end
12 with a heat sink 5. The vapor working fluid 21 will enter the
second chamber 201 to flow toward the condensation end 12 opposite
to the evaporation end 11. After flowing to the condensation end
12, the vapor working fluid 21 is cooled and condensed into the
liquid phase. The liquid working fluid 22 then flows through the
second capillary structure 102 in the first chamber 101 and the
first capillary structure 202 on the outer circumference of the
second tubular body 20 back to the evaporation end 11. Accordingly,
the liquid phase-vapor phase circulation of the working fluid 2 is
continued in a separate state. By means of the above arrangement,
the heat transfer efficiency of the heat pipe structure can be
greatly enhanced.
[0042] The working fluid is selected from a group consisting of
pure water, coolant and acetone.
[0043] Finally, please refer to FIG. 10, which is a sectional view
of a fourth embodiment of the heat pipe structure of the present
invention. The fourth embodiment is substantially identical to the
first and second embodiments in component and relationship between
the components and thus will not be repeatedly described
hereinafter. The fourth embodiment is different from the first and
second embodiments in that the heat pipe structure further has a
first section 41 and a second section 42 disposed at two ends of
the first tubular body 10 respectively. The first and second
sections 41, 42 communicate with the first and second chambers 101,
201. The evaporation end 11 is attached to a heat source 3 for
transferring the heat. After the working fluid 2 is evaporated and
converted from liquid phase into vapor phase, a large amount of
heat is transferred from the evaporation end 11 to the condensation
end 12 with a heat sink 5. The vapor working fluid 21 will enter
the second chamber 201 to flow toward the condensation end 12
opposite to the evaporation end 11. At this time, the vapor working
fluid 21 is cooled and condensed into the liquid phase at the
condensation end 12.
[0044] The liquid working fluid 22 then flows through the first
capillary structure 202 on the outer circumference of the second
tubular body 20 or the second capillary structure 102 in the first
chamber 101 or both the first and second capillary structures 202,
102 back to the evaporation end 11. Accordingly, the liquid
phase-vapor phase circulation of the working fluid 2 is continued
in a separate state. By means of the above arrangement, the heat
transfer efficiency of the heat pipe structure can be greatly
enhanced.
[0045] According to the aforesaid, in comparison with the
conventional heat pipe, the present invention has the following
advantages:
[0046] 1. The heat transfer efficiency is increased.
[0047] 2. The vapor-liquid circulation efficiency of the working
fluid is better.
[0048] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the
present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. It is
understood that many changes and modifications of the above
embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the
present invention. The scope of the present invention is limited
only by the appended claims.
* * * * *