MXPA99011050A - Eliptical heat pipe with carbon steel fines and united with galvanization of z - Google Patents

Abstract

A heat pipe has an elliptical cross section. The heat exchange fins are mounted to the heat pipe at the condenser end. The fins are galvanized on the heat pipe. The separation pins can be used to hold and separate the heat exchange fins from each other. Internal spacers can be provided inside the heat pipe to add support to the heat pipe structure for longer heat pipes

Description

TUBE D? ELLIPTICAL HEAT WITH FINS D? ACOUSAL TO CARBON AND UNITED WITH GALVANIZATION OF ZINC DESCRIPTION D? INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of heat exchange in industrial processes and in particular to a new and useful heat pipe structure. Heat pipes are known in the field of heat exchange. Heat pipes are conventionally cylindrical, with circular cross sections. The covers are provided at each end to form a closed container. A gasket is provided through the center of the pipe. A working fluid is provided inside the heat pipe container. One end of the pipe is an evaporator end and is exposed to a hot substance such as hot air. The other end is a condenser end and is exposed to a colder substance. The heat at the evaporator end causes the working fluid to evaporate and move to the opposite end of the heat pipe, towards the condenser end. At the condenser end, the working fluid delivers the heat to the heat pipe material, exchanging heat with the coldest substance, and condenses a fluid which is then packaged to the evaporator end to repeat the cycle. When the working fluid is properly selected, heat can be efficiently transferred in this way between substances that have a relatively small temperature difference, as well as those with greater temperature differences. Non-circular tubes are known for the use of heat exchangers. Heat exchanger tubes are different from heat pipes, though, since they lack the internal structure of a heat pipe and can not be used as a self-contained heat exchange system. In particular, the above designs are not well adapted to include a gasket which is an essential element of a heat pipe and is required for its operation. For example, the Patent of the United States No. ,279,692 writes an elliptical tube having several flow passages of generally triangular section discrete through the tube. The non-circular cross-section tubes used in heaters and furnaces that have cross-section reinforcements are also known. U.S. Patent 5,511,613 discloses a non-circular cross-section tube used in a heater heat exchanger. The tube may have reinforcements of cross section inside the tube. The reinforcements are of different shapes and constitute restriction barriers inside the tubes. Elliptical tubes in particular have properties that are beneficial for use as heat pipe containers. A larger surface area is provided for condensation to occur. The reduced width concentrates and minimizes the amount of working fluid in liquid form at the evaporator end of the heat pipe. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat pipe having a non-circular cross section to take advantage of the different cross section. Accordingly, a heat pipe is provided which has an elliptical cross section. The heat exchange fins are mounted to the heat pipe at the condenser end. The fins are galvanized on the heat pipe. The separation pins can be used to support and separate the heat exchange fins from one another. Internal separators can be provided inside the heat pipe to add support to the heat pipe structure for longer heat pipes. The different characteristics of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims and form a part of this description. For a better understanding of the invention, its operational advantages and specific objects achieved by these uses, reference is made to the appended drawings and the descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional extreme elevation view of a heat pipe of the invention; and Figure 2 is an extreme, right lateral perspective view of a heat pipe of the invention. Referring now to the drawings, in which similar reference numbers are used to refer to the same or similar elements, Figure 1 shows the elliptical cross section of a heat pipe 10 of the invention. The heat pipe 10 has a container body 30 which is non-circular in cross section. An internal support 25 can be placed inside the container body 30 to support the container body 30, such as when the heat pipe 10 is elongated. The support 25 may be a flat segment extending between two of the inner walls of the container body 30.

The interior of the heat pipe 10 also includes a gasket 20 around the inner wall of the container body 30 that carries a working fluid (not shown) between the ends of the condenser and evaporator of the heat pipe. The working fluid is heated and evaporated at the evaporator end. and it flows through the center of the container body 30 towards the condenser end, where the cooler substance outside the heat pipe 10 causes the working fluid to condense. The working fluid is absorbed by the gasket 20 and is moved towards the evaporator end by packaging action. The elliptical cross-section of the container body 30 provides a greater heat exchange surface area for the heat pipe 10. In addition, the working fluid is concentrated and minimized at the evaporator end of the heat pipe 10. These Improvements increase the efficiency of the heat pipe 10 in the transfer of heat between the substances at each end. Figure 2 shows the complete heat pipe 10, with the evaporator end cover 40, the condenser end cover 50 and the heat exchange fins 60. The heat exchange fins 60 may have fin spacers 65 adjacent to each corner for holding and separating the heat exchange fins 60 from each other. The heat exchange fins 60 are preferably made of carbon steel, so that they can be attached to the surface of the heat pipe container body 30 by galvanization. Therefore, the container body 30 is preferably made of steel, such as carbon steel. The heat exchange fins 60 improve the heat exchange properties of the heat pipe 10 by extension or increase of the heat exchange surface area. An opening or valve 45 is located in the evaporator end cover 40. The valve 45 is used to fill the heat pipe with a working fluid. Although shown on the evaporator end cover 40, the valve 45 can be placed on any end cover 40, 50. The end covers 40, 50 are preferably made of carbon steel and welded to the body of the container 30 to form a seal air tight. While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles thereof, it will be understood that the invention can be presented in another form without departing from such principles.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS 1. A heat pipe having improved heat transfer efficiency, comprising: a container body having a non-circular cross-section; a pair of end covers on each end of the container body sealing the ends thereof; packing means inside the container body for transporting a working fluid condensed from one end of the container body to the other end - filling means through one of the end covers for inserting the working fluid into the container body . The heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of heat exchange fins surrounding the container body oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container body. 3. The heat pipe according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one container body is composed of carbon steel and the heat exchange fins are made of carbon steel and are galvanized to the container body. 4. The heat pipe according to claim 2, characterized in that it also comprises separating means for holding and separating the plurality of heat exchange fins. 5. The heat pipe according to claim 4, characterized in that the heat exchange fins are rectangular. The heat pipe according to claim 5, characterized in that the spacer means comprises a plurality of spacing pins adjacent to each corner of the heat exchange fins between each pair of adjacent heat exchange fins. The heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the end covers is an evaporator end cover and the other end cover is a condenser end cover, the filling means comprising one of a valve and a filling tube. The heat pipe according to claim 7, characterized in that one of the valve and the filling pipe is placed through the condenser end cover. The heat pipe according to claim 8, characterized in that one of the valve and the filling pipe are placed through the evaporator end cover. 10. The heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises separating means within the container body for supporting the sides of the container body. The heat pipe according to claim 10, characterized in that the separating means comprise a flat support extending between opposite sides of the container body. 12. The heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that the container body and the pair of end covers are composed of carbon steel.