JP2000018857A - Heat pipe performance evaluating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a time and a labor hour of evaluating a performance of a heat pipe and to simply obtain the pipe having better performance by heating an evaporating part of the pipe, illuminating an X-ray to the pipe, and visualizing the X-ray transmitted image after imaging the pipe and processing the image. SOLUTION: An evaporating part of the heat pipe 1 formed with a working liquid circuit 1a is heated by a heater 3, and an X-ray is illuminated from an X-ray source 4 to the pipe 1. The pipe 1 is imaged by an imaging unit 5 to obtain an X-ray transmitted image, the imaged X-ray transmitted image is processed by an image processor 6, and then the processed X-ray transmitted image is visualized by a monitor 7. At this time, the units 3 to 5 are disposed in an imaging chamber 8 to prevent the X-ray from being leaked, and the heater 3 is controlled by a controller 9 disposed out of the chamber 8. Thus, the state that working liquid flows in the circuit 1a is visualized, a design of the pipe 1 is facilitated, and selections of a type and an amount of the liquid are optimized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat pipe performance evaluation apparatus for evaluating whether a hydraulic fluid circuit of a heat pipe functions properly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a heat pipe design stage,
In order to obtain higher performance heat pipes, a method is used in which various types of heat pipes are prototyped, their performance is confirmed by experiments, and a form having the best performance is selected.

[0003]

In the above conventional method,
Even if the experiment takes a lot of time and effort, and even if there is a possibility that a heat pipe with better performance may be obtained by repeated trial production, the improvement is abandoned because the time and effort is great. There was a compelling problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a heat pipe performance evaluation apparatus capable of reducing the time and labor required for performance evaluation and obtaining a heat pipe having better performance.

[0005]

A heat pipe performance evaluation apparatus according to the present invention comprises a heating device for heating an evaporating section of a heat pipe in which a working fluid circuit is formed,
An X-ray source for irradiating X-rays, an imaging device for capturing an X-ray transmission image of a heat pipe, an image processing device for processing an X-ray transmission image obtained by the imaging device, and an X-ray processed by the image processing device And a monitor for visualizing the transmission image.

The heat pipe is made of a metal such as aluminum or copper. Even if it is formed by a roll bonding method from two aluminum panels, a harmonica tube made of an extruded aluminum material having an internal reinforcing wall is used. A header may be formed at both ends of the pipe to allow communication between the passages, or a copper round pipe may be covered at both ends with lids.

As a heat pipe suitable for designing using this performance evaluation device, there is a flat type in which a large number of circuits are formed vertically and horizontally, such as a roll bond panel. With such a heat pipe, it is extremely difficult to predict the flow of the hydraulic fluid by calculation,
When confirmed by experiments, extremely many types of prototypes and tests are required, but by using the heat pipe performance evaluation device, the movement of the hydraulic fluid can be visually observed,
As a result, proper circuit design and circuit arrangement can be achieved. In addition to the roll bond method,
There are ones in which an inner fin is interposed between the drone cup plates and brazed, and one in which a circuit is press-formed on one panel and the other panel is joined thereto.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heat pipe performance evaluation device of the present invention comprises a heater (3) as a heating device for heating an evaporating section of a heat pipe (1) in which a working fluid circuit (1a) is formed. X-ray source that irradiates the heat pipe (1) with X-rays
(4) an imaging device (5) for capturing an X-ray transmission image of the heat pipe (1); an image processing device (6) for processing the X-ray transmission image obtained by the imaging device (5); A monitor (7) for visualizing the X-ray transmission image processed by the processing device (6).

[0010] Heater (3), X-ray source (4) and imaging device
(5) In the shooting room, prevent leakage of X-rays to the outside.
The heater (3) is arranged in the (8), and the heater (3) is controlled by a controller (9) arranged outside the imaging room (8).

The tube voltage of the X-ray source (4) is preferably about 18 to 30 kV. The X-rays spread in a conical shape and are emitted to the heat pipe (1). This allows the heat pipe (1)
The two-dimensional transmission image is obtained, and almost the entire hydraulic fluid circuit (1a) can be observed.

As the imaging device (5), a high-sensitivity CCD camera is preferable. As a result, a clear transmitted image can be obtained even if the X-rays are weak, and exposure to X-rays can be suppressed.

The design of a new heat pipe using the above heat pipe performance evaluation device is performed in the following procedure.

First, the X-ray source (4) is turned on to irradiate the prototype heat pipe (1) with X-rays. Then, the heater (3) is turned on to adjust the heat generated by the heater, and the working fluid circuit ( The evaporating section (heating section) of 1a) is heated to an appropriate temperature. Then, the flow of the hydraulic fluid (2) is checked on the screen of the monitor (7). The points to check are that there are no passages through which the hydraulic fluid (2) does not flow, and that the flow of the hydraulic fluid (2) is well-balanced.This observation and the route and width of the hydraulic fluid circuit (1a) The route, width and length of the appropriate hydraulic fluid circuit (1a) are examined and determined in consideration of the length and the length.

Also, the same hydraulic fluid circuit (1a)
By making similar observations on the prototype heat pipe (1) with different types and injection amounts of (2), it is possible to select the optimal type of hydraulic fluid and the optimal injection amount of hydraulic fluid.

In order to obtain an optimal heat pipe, a plurality of types of prototypes are required. By visualizing the flow of the liquid, circuit design elements such as the route, width and length of the hydraulic fluid circuit (1a), and the hydraulic fluid can be obtained. Since it is clear how to change the hydraulic fluid elements such as the type of fluid and the injection volume, the number of prototypes can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional design where the flow state of the hydraulic fluid could not be observed. As a result, the man-hours required for the experiment are greatly reduced.

FIG. 2 shows a heat pipe suitable for designing using the above-described performance evaluation apparatus. This heat pipe (1) is a roll-bonded panel which is swelled on one side, and is used for a notebook personal computer. As shown in the figure, a large number of circuits (1a) are formed vertically and horizontally in the panel, and it is extremely difficult to predict the flow of the hydraulic fluid by calculation. Prototyping and testing are required. When the above-described heat pipe performance evaluation apparatus is used for such a heat pipe (1), the movement of the hydraulic fluid can be visually observed, thereby enabling appropriate circuit design and circuit arrangement.

Since the above heat pipe performance evaluation apparatus can evaluate (visualize) whether the hydraulic fluid circuit of the heat pipe functions properly,
Not only can it be used to design new heat pipes, but it can also be used to verify the quality of products and to determine the causes of performance defects.

[0019]

According to the heat pipe performance evaluation apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to visualize how the hydraulic fluid flows in the circuit, so that the size of the heat pipe and the design of the circuit and the like can be extremely effectively performed. It is possible to select the most suitable type and amount of the working fluid as well as the working fluid. Therefore, the time and labor required for performance evaluation are reduced, and a heat pipe with better performance can be designed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a heat pipe performance evaluation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a heat pipe suitable for designing using the heat pipe performance evaluation device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Heat pipe (1a) Hydraulic fluid circuit (3) Heating device (4) X-ray source (5) Imaging device (6) Image processing device (7) Monitor

Claims (1)

[Claims] A heating device (3) for heating an evaporator of a heat pipe (1) in which a working fluid circuit (1a) is formed, and an X-ray source (4) for irradiating the heat pipe (1) with X-rays. And the heat pipe
An imaging device (5) for capturing the X-ray transmission image of (1), and an imaging device
(5) Image processing device for processing the X-ray transmission image obtained in (5)
And a monitor (7) for visualizing the X-ray transmission image processed by the image processing device (6).