Loop heat pipe for equipment cooling

Abstract

The apparatus is a loop heat pipe with the heat input above the heat output, so that the loop heat pipe is used to cool a transformer or equipment enclosure above ground with the condenser located and the heat being dissipated in the ground below the location at which the heat is being generated. One embodiment uses a coiled pipe for a condenser and buries it in the ground encased in concrete. Another embodiment of the invention is used to cool a diesel electric locomotive by placing the condenser below the engine and attaching multiple cooling fins to it.

What is claimed as new and for which Letters Patent of the United States are desired to be secured is:  
     
         1 . A loop heat pipe for cooling a heat generating device comprising: 
 a capillary pump located in proximity to and heated by a heat generating device, with the capillary pump including a liquid input and a vapor output;    a condenser section which is constructed of pipe, located below the capillary pump, and installed underground;    a vapor pipe interconnecting the condenser section to the vapor output of the capillary pump;    a liquid return pipe interconnecting the condenser section to the liquid input of the capillary pump; and    a heat dissipating means in contact with and cooling the condenser section.    
     
     
         2 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the condenser section is formed as a helix.  
     
     
         3 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the condenser section is formed into a serpentine configuration.  
     
     
         4 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the heat dissipating means is soil surrounding the condenser section.  
     
     
         5 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the heat dissipating means is a concrete body formed around the condenser section.  
     
     
         6 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the heat dissipating means is a concrete body formed around the condenser section, and the concrete body is located underground surrounded by soil.  
     
     
         7 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the heat dissipating means is a concrete body formed around the condenser section, and the concrete body is part of a building.  
     
     
         8 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the condenser section is installed underground and below the frost line.  
     
     
         9 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the heat generating device is electrical equipment.  
     
     
         10 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the heat generating device is electrical equipment installed within a building.  
     
     
         11 . A loop heat pipe for cooling a heat generating device comprising: 
 a capillary pump located in proximity to and heated by a heat generating device, with the capillary pump including a liquid input and a vapor output;    a condenser section which is constructed of pipe, located below the capillary pump, and installed aboard a locomotive;    a vapor pipe interconnecting the condenser section to the vapor output of the capillary pump;    a liquid return pipe interconnecting the condenser section to the liquid input of the capillary pump; and    a heat dissipating means in contact with and cooling the condenser section.    
     
     
         12 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the loop heat pipe is installed aboard a locomotive, the capillary pump is installed within the locomotive, and the condenser section is installed below the undercarriage of the locomotive.  
     
     
         13 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the loop heat pipe is installed aboard a locomotive, the condenser section is installed below the undercarriage of the locomotive, and the heat dissipating means is a group of cooling fins attached to the condenser section.