WO2001081851A1

WO2001081851A1 - Heat switch

Info

Publication number: WO2001081851A1
Application number: PCT/JP2001/003372
Authority: WO
Inventors: Harunori Kishi
Original assignee: Harunori Kishi
Priority date: 2000-04-24
Filing date: 2001-04-19
Publication date: 2001-11-01
Also published as: AU2001248796A1; JP4446326B2

Abstract

A heat switch which is relatively simple in construction, quick in switching action, and satisfactory in heat cut-off ability. The wicks in the heating and cooling sections, respectively, of a heat pipe are separated from each other, and a flow channel is provided which returns a heat medium from the cooling section to a heat medium reservoir. Feeding of the heat medium to the heating section is from the heat medium reservoir through the heating section wick. The heat medium reservoir is of volume-variable construction. Changing the volume of the heat medium reservoir controls contact and noncontact between the heating section wick and the heat medium, thereby providing on-off control of the heat transmission of the heat medium.

Description

Specification

Thermal Switch Technical Field

The present invention relates to a heat pipe having a switch function for controlling heat transfer. Technology

As a conventional heat switch, a heat switch in which a blade is operated by magnetic force to shut off a steam flow, and a heat switch in which a heat medium returning from a cooling section to a heating section is frozen by electronic cooling are proposed. Was. These heat switches had simple problems such as complicated structure, slow switching operation, and incomplete heat interruption. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to obtain a heat switch having a relatively simple structure, a fast switching operation, and good heat insulation. Disclosure of the invention

In order to achieve the above object, a heat switch of the present invention comprises a closed container formed of a hollow container provided with a heating unit and a cooling unit at positions separated from each other and a heat medium reservoir, and the heat medium reservoir is provided with a heat medium. A mechanism for changing the volume for accommodating the medium, a means for changing the volume of the heat medium reservoir is provided, and a heat medium that evaporates in the heating unit and condenses in the cooling unit is sealed in the closed container; An intermediate heat medium reservoir for temporarily storing the condensed heat medium; a cooling unit wick for guiding the condensed heat medium to the intermediate heat medium reservoir; and a return flow path for returning the heat medium from the intermediate heat medium reservoir to the heat medium reservoir. And a heating unit wick separated from the cooling unit wick for supplying the heating medium from the heating medium reservoir to the heating unit.

In this heat switch, when the volume of the heat medium in the heat medium reservoir is reduced, the liquid level of the heat medium rises, and the wick of the heating section is in contact with the heat medium in the heat medium reservoir. Be in a state. When heat is externally applied to the heating section in this state, the wick of the heating section evaporates, and the heating medium corresponding to the amount of the evaporated heating medium is replenished from the heating medium reservoir by capillary action. Next, the evaporated heat medium moves to the cooling unit due to the pressure difference, and in the cooling unit, heat is released to the outside and the heat medium returns to liquid. The heat medium returns to the heat medium reservoir through the wick of the cooling section, the intermediate heat reservoir, and the return flow path. In such a cycle, a large amount of heat transfer similar to a normal heat pipe can be realized.

Next, when the volume of the heat medium reservoir for accommodating the heat medium is increased, the liquid level of the heat medium reservoir decreases, and the wick of the heating unit does not come into contact with the heat medium of the heat medium reservoir. After the heat medium remaining in the heating unit wick evaporates, the heat medium is not supplied from the heat medium reservoir even if heat is applied from the outside, so that the heat transfer action by the heat medium does not occur.

When the volume of the heat medium in the heat storage medium is reduced, the liquid level of the heat medium increases, and the heating unit wick and the heat medium in the heat medium medium are separated. Then, the heat medium is replenished from the heat medium reservoir to the wick of the heating section by capillary action, and the heat medium evaporates immediately and returns to the above-described large heat transfer state.

In this way, by controlling the liquid level of the heat medium in the heat medium reservoir and intermittently contacting the heat medium in the heat medium reservoir with the jack of the heating unit, intermittent heat transfer can be realized.

Since the heating part wick and the cooling part wick are separated, the diameter of the heating part and the diameter of the cooling part can be changed, and if the part connecting them is made of a material with low thermal conductivity such as ceramic, a hollow container The heat transfer due to heat conduction can be made extremely small, and the heat insulation can be further improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front view (cross-sectional view) of an apparatus according to the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings based on examples. In Fig. 1, a structure with a large capillary force such as a wire mesh or sintered metal is installed inside the heating part A and cooling part B of the hollow container (1) as the heating part wick (5) and the cooling part wick (2). I do. Form an intermediate heat reservoir (3) at the end of the cooling unit wick (2). Cut out part of the intermediate heat reservoir (3) and form a return channel (4) with pipes. The heat medium reservoir (7) is configured to include a structure that can expand and contract, such as a bellows (8). The hollow container and the heat medium reservoir (7) are sealed by an appropriate method such as welding, and an appropriate amount of the heat medium (6) is sealed in the heat medium reservoir (7). Secure one end of the bellows (8) to the outer box (12) and attach a solenoid plunger (9) to the other free end. Secure the solenoid (11) to the outer box (12). Install a compression spring (10) of appropriate strength between the free end of the bellows (8) and the solenoid (11). The thermal switch is configured as described above.

Next, the operation of the heat switch will be described. First, the ON mode in which the heat transfer function operates

(i) Turn off the solenoid (11) and reduce the bellows (8) by the force of the compression spring. Then, the volume of the heat medium reservoir (7) is reduced, the liquid level of the heat medium rises, and the heat medium of the heat medium reservoir comes into contact with the heating unit wick.

(ii) Heat infiltrates the heating section wick (5) due to capillary action.

(ffi) When heat is applied to the heating section A from the outside, the heating medium in the heating section wick (5) evaporates, and the evaporated portion is replenished from the heating medium reservoir (7) by capillary action.

M The evaporated heat medium moves toward the cooling section B due to the pressure difference.

(V) In cooling city B, heat is released to the outside and condenses, and the heat medium returns to liquid.

The condensed heat medium returns to the heat medium reservoir (7) via the cooling unit wick (2), the intermediate heat medium reservoir (3), and the return flow path (4) by its own weight and capillary force.

(vfi) Return to the action of (iii). By repeating the above cycle, a large amount of heat transfer function using the latent heat of vaporization of the heat medium can be realized like a heat pipe.

Next, the heat transfer function does not work.

(i) Turn on the solenoid (11) and extend the bellows (8) with a force higher than that of the compression spring (10). Then, the volume of the heat medium reservoir (7) increases, the liquid level of the heat medium drops, and the contact between the heat medium of the heat medium reservoir and the heating unit wick (5) is cut off.

(ii) When the heating medium remaining in the heating section wick (5) is completely steamed by the heat applied to the heating section A from the outside, the heating medium in the heating medium reservoir (7) is not supplied. However, the heat transfer by the further heat medium is interrupted.

(iii) The heat medium evaporated at the end also moves toward the cooling section B due to the pressure difference, releases heat to the outside in the cooling section B, condenses, and returns to the heat medium reservoir (7). For the same reason as in (ii) of the previous term, the subsequent heat transfer by the heat medium is not continued.

In the above order, the heat transfer action by the heat medium is immediately cut off.

By changing the volume of the heat medium reservoir in this way, it is possible to control the contact / non-contact between the heating unit wick and the heat medium, thereby controlling the heat transfer ON-OFF by the heat medium. Industrial applicability

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a heat switch having a relatively simple structure, a fast switching operation, and good heat insulation.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A closed container is formed by a hollow container provided with a heating unit and a cooling unit at positions separated from each other and a heat medium reservoir, and the heat medium reservoir has a mechanism capable of changing a volume for receiving the heat medium, Means for changing the volume of the heat medium reservoir are provided, a heat medium that evaporates in the heating unit and condenses in the cooling unit is sealed in the closed container, and an intermediate heat medium reservoir that temporarily stores the condensed heat medium is provided. A cooling unit wick that guides the condensed heat medium to the intermediate heat medium reservoir; a flow path for returning the heat medium from the intermediate heat medium reservoir to the heat medium reservoir; and a heat path from the heat medium reservoir to the heating unit. A heat switch provided with a heating unit wick separate from the cooling unit wick for supplying the medium.