U.S. patent application number 15/361756 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-08 for heat pipe with fiber wick structure.
The applicant listed for this patent is TAI-SOL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Chuan-Chi TSENG, Xiao-Long WU.
Application Number | 20170160018 15/361756 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55539811 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170160018 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TSENG; Chuan-Chi ; et
al. |
June 8, 2017 |
HEAT PIPE WITH FIBER WICK STRUCTURE
Abstract
A heat pipe with fiber wick structure includes a tubular body
that is divided into an evaporator section, an adiabatic section
and a condenser section, a mesh wick structure bonded to the inner
wall of the tubular body to occupy the overall area of the
evaporator section, a flat elongated fiber wick structure partially
surrounded by the mesh wick structure in the tubular body and
extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular body to occupy
a part of the inside space of the tubular body, and a working fluid
filled in the tubular body. The fiber wick structure has one or
multiple contact surfaces partially disposed in contact with and
sintered to the mesh wick structure and partially disposed outside
the mesh wick structure and disposed in contact with and sintered
to the inner wall of the tubular body.
Inventors: |
TSENG; Chuan-Chi; (TAIPEI
CITY, TW) ; WU; Xiao-Long; (WUJIANG CITY, JIANGSU
PROVINCE, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TAI-SOL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
55539811 |
Appl. No.: |
15/361756 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/046 20130101;
F28D 15/0233 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/04 20060101
F28D015/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 4, 2015 |
TW |
104219516 |
Claims
1. A heat pipe, comprising: a tubular body being a flat, elongated,
double closed-end container longitudinally divided into an
evaporator section, an adiabatic section and a condenser section,
said evaporator section and said condenser section being
respectively located at two opposite ends of said tubular body,
said adiabatic section being connected between said evaporator
section and said condenser section; a mesh wick structure mounted
on an inner wall of said tubular body and covering at least the
overall inner surface area of said evaporator section of said
tubular body; a fiber wick structure formed of a collection of
multiple fibers in a flat elongated shape and comprising at least
one contact surface, said fiber wick structure being mounted in
said evaporator section, said adiabatic section and said condenser
section of said tubular body and extending along a longitudinal
axis of said tubular body to occupy a part of the inside space of
said tubular body; and a working fluid filled in said tubular body;
wherein said mesh wick structure surrounds said fiber wick
structure, said fiber wick structure having the said at least one
contact surface thereof partially disposed in contact with and
sintered to said mesh wick structure and partially extended out of
said mesh wick structure and disposed in contact with and sintered
to the said inner wall of said tubular body.
2. The heat pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mesh wick
structure occupies the overall space of said evaporator section and
a part of said adiabatic section.
3. The heat pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mesh wick
structure occupies the overall space of said evaporator section and
the overall space of said adiabatic section.
4. The heat pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fiber wick
structure is formed of a bundle of multiple metal fibers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to cooling technology and more
particularly, to a heat pipe that has a fiber wick structure
therein.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Chinese Patent CN 201787845 U discloses a flat heat pipe
having a complex wick structure. According to this design, the heat
pipe comprises a tubular body, and a triple wick structure
consisting of a trench-shaped wick layer, a porous wick layer and a
fiber wick layer. This structure of heat pipe is functional before
it is flattened or curved. However, when the heat pipe is flattened
or curved, the porous wick layer (i.e., sintered copper powder wick
structure can collapse, leading to reduced capillary force, poor
working fluid backflow effect, poor thermal conductivity and poor
thermal performance.
[0005] Sintered copper powder wick structures, mesh wick
structures, metal fiber wick structures and trench-shaped wick
structures are well known in the industry. However, there is
currently no specific way of setting the difference between the
sintered copper powder wick structures, the metal fiber wick
structures or the mesh wick structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a heat pipe with fiber wick structure, which
uses a fiber wick structure and a mesh wick structure instead of
the use of a copper powder wick structure, preventing wick
structure damage when the heat pipe is flattened or curved,
ensuring the working fluid backflow effect and maintaining the
overall thermal conductivity and thermal performance.
[0007] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention,
a heat pipe comprises a tubular body, a mesh wick structure, a
fiber wick structure and a working fluid. The tubular body is a
flat, elongated, double closed-end container longitudinally divided
into an evaporator section, an adiabatic section and a condenser
section. The evaporator section and the condenser section are
respectively located at two opposite ends of the tubular body. The
adiabatic section is connected between the evaporator section and
the condenser section. The mesh wick structure is mounted on an
inner wall of the tubular body and covered over at least the
overall inner surface area of the evaporator section of the tubular
body. The fiber wick structure is formed of a collection of
multiple fibers in a flat elongated shape, comprising at least one
contact surface. The fiber wick structure is mounted in the
evaporator section, the adiabatic section and the condenser section
of the tubular body and extended along the longitudinal axis of the
tubular body to occupy a part of the inside space of the tubular
body. The working fluid is filled in the tubular body. Further, the
mesh wick structure surrounds the fiber wick structure. The fiber
wick structure has the at least one contact surface thereof
partially disposed in contact with and sintered to the mesh wick
structure and partially extended out of the mesh wick structure and
disposed in contact with and sintered to the inner wall of the
tubular body.
[0008] Subject to the arrangement of the fiber wick structure and
the mesh wick structure, the fiber wick structure and the mesh wick
structure will not be damaged when the tubular body is flattened or
curved, ensuring the working fluid backflow effect and maintaining
the overall thermal conductivity and thermal performance.
[0009] Other advantages and features of the present invention will
be fully understood by reference to the following specification in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
signs denote like components of structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an oblique top elevational view of heat pipe with
fiber wick structure in accordance with a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view of the heat pipe with fiber wick
structure in accordance with the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.
1.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.
2.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of heat pipe with fiber wick
structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of heat pipe with fiber wick
structure in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of heat pipe with fiber wick
structure in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present
invention, where the view angle is similar to FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a heat pipe with fiber wick
structure 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present
invention is shown. The heat pipe 10 comprises a tubular body 11, a
mesh wick structure 13, a fiber wick structure 15 and a working
fluid.
[0018] The tubular body 11 is a flat, elongated, double closed-end
container. Further, the tubular body 11 is longitudinally divided
into three parts: the evaporator section H, the adiabatic
(transport) section A and the condenser section C. The evaporator
section H and the condenser section C are respectively located at
the two opposite ends of the tubular body 11.
[0019] The mesh wick structure 13 is arranged on an inner wall of
the tubular body 11, covering at least the overall inner surface
area of the evaporator section H of the tubular body 11. In the
present first embodiment, the mesh wick structure 13 is sintered to
the inner wall of the tubular body 11 to cover the overall inner
surface area of the evaporator section H. The mesh wick structure
13 increases the heating surface area and water storage capacity of
the evaporator section H, and also enhances the capillary force of
the evaporator section H on the working fluid.
[0020] The fiber wick structure 15 is formed of a collection of
multiple fibers and arranged to exhibit a flat elongated shape,
having two contact surfaces 16 respectively located on opposing top
and bottom sides thereof. The fiber wick structure 15 is
longitudinally mounted in the evaporator section H, adiabatic
(transport) section A and condenser section C of the tubular body
11 on the middle, and extended along the longitudinal axis of the
tubular body 11. The two contact surfaces 16 of the fiber wick
structure 15 are bonded to the inner wall of the tubular body 11.
Thus, the fiber wick structure 15 occupies a part of the inside
space of the tubular body 11, dividing the inside space of the
tubular body 11 into two subspaces 17. In the present first
embodiment, the fiber wick structure 15 is formed of a bundle of
multiple metal fibers.
[0021] The working fluid is filled into the tubular body 11.
Further, the working fluid is absorbed into the mesh wick structure
13 and the fiber wick structure 15, and thus, it is difficult to
indicate the working fluid on the drawings. Further, because the
working fluid is a very familiar component in the heat pipe
industry, it is not illustrated in the annexed drawings.
[0022] After understood the architecture of the first embodiment,
the application of this first embodiment is explained
hereinafter.
[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the evaporator section H of the
tubular body 11 is disposed in contact with a heat source (not
shown) to absorb heat energy from the heat source, enabling the
working fluid to be heated and evaporated in the evaporator section
H so that the working fluid vapor thus produced can be transferred
through the two subspaces 17 to the condenser section C. Because
the condenser section C does not receive any external thermal
energy, the working fluid vapor in the condenser section C is
condensed into liquid phase that permeates into the fiber wick
structure 15 and flows back to the evaporator section H for further
evaporation. This gas-liquid transition is repeated again and
again, achieving rapid thermal conductivity and the effect of
uniform temperature.
[0024] Subject to the arrangement of the fiber wick structure 15
and the mesh wick structure 13 in the aforesaid first embodiment of
the present invention instead of the use of a copper powder wick
structure that can collapse when the heat pipe is flattened or
deformed, the wick structures of the heat pipe in accordance with
the present invention will not be damaged when the tubular body 11
is flattened or curved, ensuring the working fluid backflow effect
and maintaining the overall thermal conductivity or thermal
performance.
[0025] It is well known in the industry that the higher the void
fraction of the wick structure, the lower the capillary action. The
maximum heat transfer capacity (Qmax) can be obtained when the void
fraction of the wick structure is in a certain range. Therefore,
the use of the fiber wick structure 15 and the mesh wick structure
13 prevents collapsing or increasing the void fraction of the wick
structure when the tubular body 11 is flattened or curved, ensuring
the maximum heat transfer capacity.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 5, a heat pipe with fiber wick structure
10' in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention
is shown. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the
aforesaid first embodiment with the exceptions as follows:
[0027] The mesh wick structure 13' covers the overall inner surface
area of the evaporator section H of the tubular body 11' and a part
of the adiabatic (transport) section A.
[0028] When compared with the aforesaid first embodiment, the
length of the mesh wick structure 13' in accordance with this
second embodiment is relatively longer than the mesh wick structure
13 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present
invention, providing a relatively longer return path for the
working fluid that is condensed on the inner wall of the tubular
body 11',
[0029] However, due to that the mesh wick structure 13' occupies a
part of the volume of the two subspaces 17', the flow path for the
working fluid is relatively narrower in this second embodiment.
Thus, the user can decide whether or not to adopt the configuration
of the second embodiment according to actual requirements.
[0030] The other structural features of this second embodiment and
the effect this second embodiment can achieve are same as the
aforesaid first embodiment, so we will not repeat them there.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 6, a heat pipe with fiber wick structure
10'' in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention
is shown. This third embodiment is substantially similar to the
aforesaid second embodiment with the exceptions as follows:
[0032] The mesh wick structure 13'' covers the overall inner
surface of the evaporator section H of the tubular body 11'' and
the overall inner surface of the adiabatic (transport) section
A.
[0033] When compared with the aforesaid second embodiment, the
length of the mesh wick structure 13'' in accordance with this
third embodiment is relatively longer than the mesh wick structure
13' in accordance with the second embodiment of the present
invention, providing a relatively more longer return path for the
working fluid, however, due to that the mesh wick structure 13''
occupies more volume of the two subspaces 17'', the flow path for
the working fluid is relatively narrower in this third embodiment.
Thus, the user can decide whether or not to adopt the configuration
of the third embodiment according to actual requirements.
[0034] The other structural features of this third embodiment and
the effect this third embodiment can achieve are same as the
aforesaid first embodiment, so we will not repeat them there.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 7, a heat pipe with fiber wick structure
40 in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention
is shown. This fourth embodiment is substantially similar to the
aforesaid first embodiment with the exceptions as follows:
[0036] The fiber wick structure 45 is so arranged that one contact
surface 46 of the fiber wick structure 45 is bonded to the inner
wall of the tubular body 41, and the other contact surface 46 of
the fiber wick structure 45 is spaced from the inner wall of the
tubular body 41 at a predetermined distance. Thus, the fiber wick
structure 45 simply occupies a part of the inside space of the
tubular body 41 without dividing the inside space of the tubular
body 41 into two opposing subspaces.
[0037] The other structural features of this fourth embodiment and
the effect this third embodiment can achieve are same as the
aforesaid first embodiment, so we will not repeat them there.
[0038] Further, it's worth mentioning that the arrangement of the
fiber wick structure 15(45) on the central axis of the tubular body
11(41) in the aforesaid four embodiments is not a limitation.
Alternatively, the fiber wick structure 15(45) can be arranged on
one lateral side of the central axis of the tubular body 11(41),
achieving the same effects.
* * * * *