Miniaturized cooling device and method of use

摘要

Disclosed is a self-contained, rapid cooling device that retains heat produced from the cooling process and can be stored for indefinite periods without loosing its cooling potential. A liquid in a first chamber undergoes a change of phase into vapor, which cools the first chamber. A sorbent in a second chamber is in fluid communication with the vapor and removes the vapor from the first chamber. The cooling process is facilitated by lining the interior surface of the first chamber with a wicking material to retain the largest possible contact between the liquid and the first chamber as the level of the liquid lowers during the vaporization process. A phase separator prevents unvaporized liquid from passing into the second chamber. The device is self-contained because a material in contact with the sorbent removes the heat from the sorbent to prevent the reduction in the cooling effect produced by the first chamber.