Abstract: A heat spreader including a body having a first conduction value and a first electromagnetic interference shield value. The heat spreader further includes a conduction enhancement affixed to the body, the conduction enhancement having a second conduction value greater than the first conduction value and a second electromagnetic interference shield value less than the first electromagnetic interference shield value. At least a portion of the conduction enhancement is positioned relative to the body for increasing an effective electromagnetic interference shield value of the body associated with the at least a portion of the conduction enhancement.

Abstract: A loop heat pipe evaporator includes a porous primary wick, and a nonporous envelope unseparatingly surrounding the primary wick. The primary wick and the envelope are of one-piece construction.

Abstract: A heat transfer device includes a hollow spacer between opposed substrates, defining an enclosure, at least one of the substrates adapted to be secured to at least one heat source. A non-permeable barrier is in the enclosure between the substrates. A first chamber inside the enclosure is defined by the spacer, the substrates, and the barrier, the first chamber in fluid communication with at least one first inlet and first outlet. A second chamber inside the enclosure and outside the first chamber and is defined by the spacer, the substrates, and the barrier, the second chamber in fluid communication with at least one second outlet. A wick structure is secured to at least one substrate, a first portion of the wick structure in the first chamber, and a second portion of the wick structure in the second chamber and interconnecting in passive liquid communication with the first portion.

Abstract: A method of purifying brackish water includes mixing brackish water with a nucleating agent, forming nucleated liquid water and distributing droplets of the nucleated liquid water inside a vacuum chamber, vacuum freezing the droplets of the nucleated liquid water in the vacuum chamber. The method further includes the droplets forming pure water vapor, nucleated ice, and remaining brackish water, mixing and liquifying the pure water vapor and the nucleated ice, forming a mixture of purified liquid water and the nucleating agent. The method further includes separating the mixture of purified liquid water and the nucleating agent, forming purified liquid water and the nucleating agent.

Abstract: An apparatus for dissipating thermal energy including a baseplate including a first body having a first groove and a second groove intersecting one another, the first groove and the second groove formed in and only accessible from a first side of the baseplate. The apparatus including a first heat pipe and a second heat pipe arranged and disposed to provide both an overlapping arrangement and a nonoverlapping arrangement within the first groove and the second groove of the baseplate.

Abstract: A cooling unit positioned between a first and a second gas stream, the first and the second gas stream having no direct fluid contact therebetween. The cooling unit includes a double-sided heat exchanger with a first side that is in thermal communication with the first gas stream and a second side that is in thermal communication with the second gas stream. The double-sided heat exchanger provides a direct path of thermal conduction between the first gas stream and the second gas stream. First fins are provided on the first side of the double-sided heat exchanger and second fins are provided on the second side of the double-sided heat exchanger. A first surface area of the first side of the double-sided heat exchanger is at least 5% greater than a second surface area of the second side of the double-sided heat exchanger. A housing surrounds a fan and the second fins.

Abstract: A heat transfer assembly includes a movable heat transfer device in contact with a heat sink and a conduction card in contact with the heat sink, the conduction card being thermally connected to the movable heat transfer device. The movable heat transfer device contacts at least two surfaces of the heat sink, is a condenser, includes at least one non-perpendicular angle, or a combination thereof. The conduction card contacts at least one surface of the heat sink, includes at least one non-perpendicular angle, or a combination thereof. The heat transfer assembly contacts at least three surfaces of the heat sink.

Abstract: A heat pipe device comprising at least two of the following: an axially grooved bore for thermal transport, the axially grooved bore having an axial groove wick; a phase change material bore for thermal storage, the phase change material bore having internal fins to enhance heat transfer, the internal fins extend along the axis of the phase change material bore; and a porous media bore for accepting high heat fluxes, the porous media bore having a porous media wick in areas of high heat flux.

Abstract: A cooling unit positioned between a first gas stream and a second gas stream, the first gas stream and the second gas stream having no direct fluid contact therebetween. The cooling unit includes a double-sided heat exchanger with a first side that is in thermal communication with the first gas stream and a second side that is in thermal communication with the second gas stream. The double-sided heat exchanger provides a direct path of thermal conduction between the first gas stream and the second gas stream. First fins are provided on the first side of the double-sided heat exchanger and second fins are provided on the second side of the double-sided heat exchanger. A first surface area of the first side of the double-sided heat exchanger is at least 5% greater than a second surface area of the second side of the double-sided heat exchanger.

Abstract: A cool storage system comprising which includes a plurality of heat pipes. Each of the heat pipes has a lower evaporator section, a hybrid evaporator/condensing section, and an upper condensing section. The hybrid evaporator/condensing section positioned between the lower evaporator section and the upper condensing section. Each of the heat pipes contains a selected amount of a heat transfer fluid adapted to transfer heat from the lower evaporator section to the hybrid evaporator/condensing section and the upper condensing section through a vapor/condensation cycle, or the heat transfer fluid is vaporized in the hybrid evaporator and condensed in the upper evaporator section. A thermal storage medium is provided in thermal engagement with the hybrid evaporator/condensing section. A heat source is located in said lower evaporator section, and a cooling source, located in said upper condensing section.

Abstract: An incineration system includes an inlet channel supplying an inlet stream comprising a waste gas containing at least one volatile organic compound, a waste gas sensor measuring at least one property of the waste gas, an oxidizing gas supply controllably providing oxidizing gas to the inlet channel, an incinerator receiving the inlet stream from the inlet channel, an ignitor initiating combustion of the inlet stream in the reaction zone of the incinerator, and a controller receiving data from the waste gas sensor and controlling flow of oxidizing gas from the oxidizing gas supply into the inlet channel. The spiral heat exchanger defines a reaction zone, an incoming path from the inlet channels to the reaction zone, and an outgoing path from the reaction zone to an exhaust channel. The incoming path and the outgoing path extend in alternating concentric spirals with the incoming path being countercurrent to the outgoing path.

Abstract: A heat pipe assembly that includes at least one axial groove heat pipe and at least one porous media heat pipe. The porous media heat pipe may be embedded into a flange of the axial groove heat pipe, or embedded into a wall of the axial groove heat pipe, or embedded into another bore of the axial groove heat pipe. The evaporator of the at least one porous media heat pipe may be located remotely and can accept a high heat flux, while a condenser of the at least one porous media heat pipe is attached to the axial groove heat pipe.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage system includes a phase change composition including a phase change material. The phase change composition has a first melting temperature at a first hydration level and a second melting temperature at a second hydration level. The phase change composition stores thermal energy by converting from a solid to a liquid. The thermal energy storage system also includes at least one compartment containing the phase change composition and at least one tuning medium receiving water to adjust the phase change composition from the first hydration level to the second hydration level and supplying water to adjust the phase change composition from the second hydration level to the first hydration level. A method of storing and releasing thermal energy is also disclosed.

Abstract: Open-loop thermal management systems and open-loop thermal management processes are disclosed. The process includes providing an open-loop thermal management system, saturating a reactor of the system with gas while a flow control unit prevents flow of the gas from the reactor, and maintaining a gas dissociation pressure range of the gas within the reactor. The system includes the reactor being arranged to receive a heat load. The reactor contains metal hydrides, metal organic framework, or a combination thereof. The reactor includes at least one venting line extending from the reactor. Also, the flow control unit is configured to adjustably control the flow of gas from the reactor to maintain the gas dissociation pressure range.

Abstract: A thermally actuated heat pipe control valve including a housing, a phase change material actuator, and a passage closing member. A passage extends through the housing and is configured to receive working fluid from the heat pipe therein. The phase change material actuator is positioned in the housing and has a sealed chamber with phase change material positioned therein. The passage closing member is positioned in the housing proximate to or in the passage and proximate to the phase change material actuator. The passage closing member has a surface which cooperates with a wall of the passage. As the temperature of the phase change material reaches a designed temperature, the phase change material melts and expands causing the passage closing member to move into the passage to a closed position, preventing heat transfer between the condenser portion and the evaporator portion when the designed temperature is reached or exceeded.

Abstract: A thermally actuated heat pipe control valve which includes a housing having a first opening for receiving a condenser portion of a heat pipe therein, a second opening for receiving an evaporator portion of the heat pipe therein and a passage extending through the housing from the first opening to the second opening. The passage is configured to receive working fluid from the heat pipe therein. A passage closing member is positioned in the housing proximate to or in the passage. The passage closing member having a surface which cooperates with a wall of the passage. At a specific temperature, the passage closing member moves into the passage to a closed position, preventing the flow of the working fluid, thereby preventing heat transfer between the condenser portion and the evaporator portion when the design temperature is reached or exceeded.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and method which is able to perform in different seasons. The heat exchanger has an upper header and a lower header. Multiple heat pipes extend between the upper header and the lower header, with each of the multiple heat pipes having an evaporator section at one end and a condenser section at the opposite end. The direction of heat flow through the multiple heat pipes is variable depending on ambient air conditions applied to the heat exchanger. A pump is provided in fluid communication with the upper header and the lower header. The pump operates when the heat exchanger is operating in a second mode in which the evaporator section is located above the condenser section, and the pump is disabled when the heat exchanger is operating in a first mode in which the condenser section is located above the evaporator section.

Abstract: A card retainer device for securing a card module in a channel of a chassis. The card retainer device includes wedge members which have main portions with integrated brackets integrally attached to the main portions, the integrated brackets form first L-shaped brackets which engage walls of the chassis, surfaces of the card module or a combination thereof. The L-shaped brackets provide bearing surfaces which reduces binding and wear when the card retainer device secures the card module in the channel of a chassis and enhances the conductance of heat through the card retainer device. The wedge members provide heat transfer paths between the card module and the chassis. Mating surfaces of mating wedge member interfaces have compound angles that produces an applied force orthogonal to a flange of the conduction card that is greater than the force applied parallel to the flange of the conduction card.

Abstract: A heat pipe assembly that includes at least one axial groove heat pipe and at least one porous media heat pipe. The porous media heat pipe may be embedded into a flange of the axial groove heat pipe, or embedded into a wall of the axial groove heat pipe, or embedded into another bore of the axial groove heat pipe. The evaporator of the at least one porous media heat pipe may be located remotely and can accept a high heat flux, while a condenser of the at least one porous media heat pipe is attached to the axial groove heat pipe.

Abstract: A multi-phase pump system and method that directs incoming two-phase flow into a fixed cylinder that contains a vortical flow. The system includes a momentum-driven, vortex phase separator, the phase separator accepting liquid-gas flows at any ratio from all liquid to all gas. The pump system also includes a liquid prime mover; a gas prime mover; and a control system. The vortical flow is driven by injecting the two-phase or another fluid stream tangent or approximately tangent to the curved surface of the cylindrical chamber. Inertial forces generated within the vortical flow drive a buoyancy-driven separation process within the cylindrical chamber. Single-phase prime movers are then used to pump the separated phases to a higher pressure.