Cooling device and system

Abstract

A novel heat pipe and a cooling system that employs the heat pipe are disclosed. The heat pipe has a configuration in the form of a nail that includes a flattened upper section and an elongated lower, section. The heat pipe may be in the form of nail shape or a continuous bar that includes a flattened upper section and an elongated section. The heat pipe may be employed together with a thermoelectric cooling module and a heat sink to provide a cooling device. The cooling device may be employed with a container to provide a cooling system.

1 . A heat pipe comprising a flattened upper section operatively connected to an elongated lower section wherein the elongated lower section has the configuration on an elongated hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         2 . The heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the elongated hollow cylinder has a circular cross section or a hollow hexagonal cross section. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the lower section has a closed lower end and an open upper end wherein the closed lower end has a hemispherical configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein the upper section includes a port for admitting coolant into the lower section. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pipe of  claim 4  wherein the coolant is a phase change, heat transfer liquid selected from the group consisting of ammonia, acetone, 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene, ethanol and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pipe of  claim 1  wherein each of the elongated section and the upper section are formed from heat conductive materials that have thermal conductivities of about 150W·m −1 ·K −1  or greater at 300 K. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pipe of  claim 6  wherein the heat conductive materials are aluminum. 
     
     
         8 . A heat pipe comprising a continuous angled bar that has an upper section that is integral with an elongated lower section wherein the upper section and lower section have an angle θ there between and wherein the bar has at least one channel that extends throughout the upper section and the lower section. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pipe of  claim 8  wherein the bar has a ratio of width to thickness of about 3 to about 6. 
     
     
         10 . The heat pipe of  claim 8  wherein the bar includes a plurality of channels. 
     
     
         11 . The heat pipe of  claim 8  wherein the angle θ is about 90°±10°. 
     
     
         12 . A cooling device comprising a heat pipe cooperatively connected to a thermoelectric cooling module wherein the thermoelectric cooling module is cooperatively connected to a heat sink and wherein the thermoelectric cooling module generates a cold surface that contacts the heat pipe to cool fluid coolant in the heat pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising a fan unit cooperatively connected the heat sink wherein the fan unit provides air to the heat sink. 
     
     
         14 . A cooling system comprising the cooling device of  claim 12  secured to a container suitable for retaining flowable material wherein the heat pipe extends into the container. 
     
     
         15 . The cooling system of  claim 14  wherein the cooling device of  claim 12  further comprises a fan unit cooperatively connected to the heat sink wherein the fan unit provides air to the heat sink. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling system of  claim 14  further comprising a tube for extracting flowable material from the container.