PHASE-CHANGE COOLING OF SUBTERRANEAN POWER LINES

摘要

A cooling system for a subterranean power line may include a cooling tube configured to house a fluid. Heat generated by the subterranean power line may be radiated and/or conducted to the cooling tube and absorbed by the fluid within the cooling tube. As the fluid heats up, it may change phase from a liquid to a gas. The hot gas may rise to a heat-exchanging condenser configured to dissipate the heat and condense the fluid back into a liquid. The cool, condensed liquid my return from the heat-exchanging condenser to the cooling tube. Risers, gas transport tubes, pressure regulation systems, fluid storage tanks, and other components described herein may increase the efficiency of the cooling system and/or otherwise improve the viability of the cooling system for subterranean power lines.

主权项

1. A method of cooling a subterranean power line comprising:
receiving, via a cooling tube, thermal energy generated by a current flow through at least one subterranean power line located external to the cooling tube; absorbing, via a fluid within the cooling tube, at least some of the thermal energy received by the cooling tube; receiving, via a heat-exchanging condenser fluidly connected to the cooling tube, the fluid in a heated, gaseous phase; and dissipating, via the heat-exchanging condenser, the thermal energy stored in the fluid.