PLATE TYPE HEAT PIPE AND HEAT SINK USING THE SAME
A plate-type heat pipe includes a sealed shell containing working liquid therein, and elongated wick structures arranged in the shell in a spaced manner. Channels are formed between the wick structures. The heat pipe has an evaporating section and a condensing section. Two ends of each wick structure are respectively located at the evaporating section and the condensing section. Top and bottom faces of each wick structure respectively contact top and bottom inner faces of the shell.
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1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to heat dissipation and, more particularly, to a plate type heat pipe and a heat sink using the plate type heat pipe.
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays, numerous types of heat sinks are used to dissipate heat generated by electronic devices. A plate type heat pipe with dissipating fins mounted thereon is a common type of heat sink. The heat pipe is a hollow tube receiving working fluid therein, and has a wick structure formed on an inner face thereof for drawing back the working fluid. When the heat pipe is maintained in thermal contact with an electronic device, the working fluid contained in the heat pipe at a hotter section of the heat pipe vaporizes into vapor. The vapor moves to a cooler section of the heat pipe, and releases its latent heat and condenses to fluid again. The condensate returns to the hotter section via capillary force provided by the wick structure. Thereafter, the fluid repeatedly vaporizes and condenses to form a circulation system which continually removes the heat generated by the electronic device.
However, the plate type heat pipe of the heat sink is prone to deformation when subjected to an inner or an outer pressure during use. For example, internal vapor pressure or accidental impact may distort the heat pipe. Such deformation may result in disengagement of the wick structure from the inner face of the heat pipe, adversely affecting the performance of the heat pipe.
What is needed, therefore, is a plate type heat pipe and a heat sink using the plate type heat pipe which can overcome the limitations described.
Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and all the views are schematic.
Also referring to
In use, the evaporating section 21 of the plate type heat pipe 20 thermally contacts the heat source 30 to absorb heat generated therefrom. The working fluid at the evaporating section 21 is heated and vaporized to flow through the channels 280 to the condensing section 23. The vaporized working fluid exchanges heat with the fin assembly 10 at the condensing section 23 and is condensed to liquid. The condensed working fluid returns to the evaporating section 21 via the wick structures 26.
According to the disclosure, the wick structures disposed in the plate type heat pipes 20, 20a, 20b are able to not only provide capillary force acting on the working fluid, but also can support the shells 25, 25a, 25b to prevent the shells 25, 25a, 25b from deforming when subjected to internal vapor pressure or external impact or vibration.
It is believed that the disclosure and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.
Claims
1. A plate type heat pipe comprising:
- a sealed shell;
- a working fluid filled in the shell; and
- a plurality of elongated wick structures arranged in the shell in a spaced manner, a plurality of channels being defined between the wick structures, the heat pipe having an evaporating section and a condensing section, two ends of each wick structure being respectively located at the evaporating section and the condensing section, and top and bottom faces of each wick structure respectively contacting top and bottom inner faces of the shell.
2. The plate type heat pipe of claim 1, wherein the wick structures are sintered metal powder.
3. The plate type heat pipe of claim 1, wherein the wick structures are sintered ceramic powder.
4. The plate type heat pipe of claim 1, wherein portions of the wick structures corresponding to the condensing section of the heat pipe are connected each other by sintered metal powder or ceramic powder.
5. The plate type heat pipe of claim 4, wherein the portions of the wick structures corresponding to the condensing section of the heat pipe define a passage, the passage being substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the channels.
6. The plate type heat pipe of claim 1, wherein portions of the wick structures corresponding to the condensing section of the heat pipe define a passage, the passage being substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the channels.
7. The plate type heat pipe of claim 1, wherein portions of the wick structures corresponding to each of the evaporating section and the condensing section of the heat pipe are connected each other by sintered metal powder or ceramic powder.
8. The plate type heat pipe of claim 7, wherein the portions of the wick structures corresponding to each of the evaporating section and the condensing section of the heat pipe define a vapor passage, the passage being substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the channels.
9. The plate type heat pipe of claim 1, wherein portions of the wick structures corresponding to each of the evaporating section and the condensing section of the heat pipe define a vapor passage, the passage being substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the channels.
10. The plate type heat pipe of claim 1, wherein the evaporating section and the condensing section are respectively located at different levels.
11. The plate type heat pipe of claim 1, wherein the evaporating section and the condensing section are perpendicular to each other and at the same level.
12. A heat sink adapted for cooling a heat source, the heat sink comprising:
- a fin assembly comprising a plurality of fins; and
- a plate type heat pipe comprising: a sealed shell; a working fluid filled in the shell; and a plurality of elongated wick structures arranged in the shell in a spaced manner, a plurality of channels being defined between the wick structures, the heat pipe having an evaporating section adapted for thermally contacting the heat source and a condensing section thermally contacting the fin assembly, two ends of each wick structure being respectively located at the evaporating section and the condensing section, and top and bottom faces of each wick structure respectively contacting top and bottom inner faces of the shell.
13. The heat sink of claim 12, wherein the wick structures are sintered metal powder.
14. The heat sink of claim 12, wherein the wick structures are sintered ceramic powder.
15. The heat sink of claim 12, wherein portions of the wick structures corresponding to the condensing section of the heat pipe are connected each other by sintered metal powder or ceramic powder.
16. The heat sink of claim 15, wherein the portions of the wick structures corresponding to the condensing section of the heat pipe define a passage, the passage being substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the channels.
17. The heat sink of claim 12, wherein portions of the wick structures corresponding to the condensing section of the heat pipe define a passage, the passage being substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the channels.
18. The heat sink of claim 12, wherein portions of the wick structures corresponding to each of the evaporating section and the condensing section of the heat pipe are connected each other by sintered metal powder or ceramic powder.
19. The heat sink of claim 18, wherein the portions of the wick structures corresponding to each of the evaporating section and the condensing section of the heat pipe define a vapor passage, the passage being substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the channels.
20. The heat sink of claim 12, wherein portions of the wick structures corresponding to each of the evaporating section and the condensing section of the heat pipe define a vapor passage, the passage being substantially perpendicular to and communicating with the channels.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 23, 2010
Publication Date: May 10, 2012
Applicants: FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (Tucheng City), FU ZHUN PRECISION INDUSTRY (SHEN ZHEN) CO., LTD. (Shenzhen City)
Inventors: QING-PING YAN (Shenzhen City), DE-YU WANG (Shenzhen City), JIANG-JUN HU (Shenzhen City)
Application Number: 12/977,088
International Classification: F28D 15/04 (20060101);