DEMAND-BASED CHARGING OF A HEAT PIPE

摘要

A heat pipe includes a reservoir of liquid that is connected to a horizontal portion of the heat pipe via a capillary connection. The heat pipe includes a temperature sensor in proximity to a heat interface in the horizontal portion and a controller that controls a heater for the reservoir. As power into the heat pipe increases, the controller turns on the heater, causing the temperature of the liquid in the reservoir to rise. Liquid then passes from the reservoir through the capillary connection into the horizontal portion, thereby dynamically increasing the amount of liquid in the heat pipe, which increases performance of the heat pipe at higher power levels. When the heater is off, as the heat pipe cools, the liquid condenses and flows back through the capillary connection into the reservoir. The result is a heat pipe that provides demand-based charging of the liquid based on power level.

主权项

1. A method for dynamically charging a heat pipe with a liquid, the method comprising:
providing the heat pipe comprising:
an interface for thermally coupling a heat source to the heat pipe;a substantially horizontal portion charged with a first quantity of liquid and coupled to the interface;a reservoir that contains a second quantity of the liquid;a capillary connection that connects the reservoir to the substantially horizontal portion;a heater thermally coupled to the reservoir;a temperature sensor in proximity to the interface; anda controller coupled to the heater and the temperature sensor; detecting when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold; and in response to the detecting when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds the predetermined threshold, turning on the heater to cause at least a portion of the second quantity of liquid in the reservoir to pass from the reservoir through the capillary connection into the substantially horizontal portion.