Wick-interrupt temperature controlling heat pipe

Details Wick-interrupt temperature controlling heat pipe Wick-interrupt temperature controlling heat pipe

1996-09-12

1998-06-30

Ford, John K.

Heat exchange

With timer, programmer, time delay, or condition responsive...

Control of heat pipe heat transfer characteristics

16510426, 126 45, F28D 1500

Patent

active

057719675

ABSTRACT:
The wick-interrupt temperature controlling heat pipe (WITCH) is a device for controlling the temperature of spacecraft temperature-sensitive, heat dispensing devices. A heat transporting working fluid is conveyed in saturated equilibrium with its vapor across a discontinuous internal capillary liquid wick, within a tubular cylindrical pressure vessel, from a condenser section to an evaporator section located on either side of the discontinuity. When the temperature within the WITCH rises to a predetermined level, a sliding wick located within the internal capillary liquid wick is inserted across the discontinuity by a temperature sensitive control rod, thereby allowing the heat transporting working fluid to circulate from the condenser section wick to the evaporator section wick. In this configuration, the WITCH operates identically to the "constant-conductance heat pipe" commonly used. When the component's or heat pipe's temperature drops to a predetermined level the control rod contracts relative to the heat pipe vessel wall and retracts the sliding wick, again creating a wick discontinuity between the evaporator and condenser sections and thereby interrupting the flow of the heat transporting working fluid and causing evaporator dry-out and curtailment of heat pipe operation. This "ON" and "OFF" heat pipe operation is the means whereby temperature is actively controlled to within a narrow range while heat transport varies over a wide range.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3587725 (1971-06-01), Basiulis
patent: 3818980 (1974-06-01), Moore, Jr.
patent: 4026348 (1977-05-01), Roberts
patent: 4147206 (1979-04-01), Basiulis
patent: 4162701 (1979-07-01), Ollendorf
patent: 4351388 (1982-09-01), Calhoun et al.
patent: 4489777 (1984-12-01), Del Bagno et al.
patent: 5335720 (1994-08-01), Ogushi et al.
Kaufman et al., Evaluation of Commercially Available Spacecraft-Type Heat pes, J. Spacecraft, vol. No. 2, pp.98-103, Mar. 1979.
Groll et al, Shutdown Characteristics of an Axial-Groove Liquid-Trap Heat Pipe Thermal Diode, J. Spacecraft, vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 173-178, Mar. 1982.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Wick-interrupt temperature controlling heat pipe does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Wick-interrupt temperature controlling heat pipe, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wick-interrupt temperature controlling heat pipe will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1849909