Abstract: A closed-loop arterial heat pipe comprises an evaporator domain (10) and a condenser domain (11) interconnected by a transition domain (12). An interior surface of the evaporator domain (10) defines an evaporation chamber, which has a helical channel (17) of capillary transverse dimension formed thereon. The transition domain (11) defines a conduit (13) through which vapor-phase working fluid is thermodynamically driven substantially adiabatically from the evaporator domain (10) to the condenser domain (11), and an artery (14) through which liquid-phase working fluid is returned from the condenser domain (11) to the evaporator domain (10) by capillary action. The artery (14) has a generally pyriform transverse cross-sectional configuration that converges to a throat portion adjacent a slot (16) of capillary transverse dimension on the surface of the evaporation chamber.

Abstract: As illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, a manifolded evaporator (60) comprises a closed evaporation chamber (61) and a delivery structure (62) through which liquid-phase working fluid is delivered into the evaporation chamber (61). One wall (63) of the evaporation chamber (61) is positioned to intercept a flux of heat from a heat source. A wick structure (64), such as a fine-mesh metallic screen, is secured adjacent the wall (63). The delivery structure (62) comprises an elongate supply phenum (65), an elongate recovery plenum (66), and a plurality of delivery conduits (67) connecting the supply plenum (65) to the recovery plenum (66). Each of the delivery conduits (67) is of generally U-shaped configuration with a transverse portion running inside the evaporation chamber (61) immediately adjacent the wick structure (64). A slot (68) along the transverse portion of each delivery conduit (67) allows liquid-phase working fluid to flow out of the delivery conduit (67 ) into the wick structure (64).

Abstract: A closed-loop heat transfer system comprises a heat pipe (10) and an external liquid-phase pump (11). The heat pipe (10) includes an evaporator (12) and a condenser (13) connected by a conduit (14). The evaporator (12) is a hollow structure having an interior surface defining an evaporation region in which a working field in liquid phase absorbs heat from a heat source by evaporation. A capillary pumping structure, e.g., capillary channels (30) or a fine-mesh screen (41), is provided on or adjacent the interior wall of the evaporator (12). Evaporated working fluid laden with heat is thermodynamically driven substantially adiabatically via the conduit (14) from the evaporator (12) to the condenser (13), wherein the working fluid rejects heat to a heat sink by condensation. Condensed working fluid is thereupon returned from the condenser (13) to the evaporator (12) via external conduits (22, 15) by means of the liquid-phase pump (11).