Loop heat pipe

Abstract

A loop heat pipe includes an evaporator, a condenser, and a vapor line and a liquid line each connecting the evaporator with the condenser to form a closed loop. A predetermined quantity of bi-phase working medium is contained in the closed loop. A separator connects the liquid line. A cross section of the separator is larger than a cross section of the liquid line. The separator separates the liquid state working medium from the vapor state working medium when the working medium flows therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A loop heat pipe comprising:
 an evaporator;   a condenser;   a vapor line and a liquid line each connecting the evaporator with the condenser to form a closed loop;   a predetermined quantity of bi-phase working medium contained in the closed loop; and   a separator connected to the liquid line, wherein a cross section of the separator is larger than a cross section of the liquid line, and the separator is configured for separating a liquid state working medium from a vapor state working medium when the working medium flows therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein a capacitance of the separator is larger than that of a portion of the liquid line which has substantially the same length as the separator. 
     
     
         3 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the separator comprises a hollow cylindrical main body, wherein an entrance and an exit are located at two opposite ends of the main body, and a diameter of the main body is larger than that of the liquid line. 
     
     
         4 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 3 , wherein the entrance has a tapered shape with a diameter gradually increasing from an end adjacent to the condenser towards the main body. 
     
     
         5 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 4 , wherein the exit has a reverse tapered shape with a diameter gradually decreasing from the main body towards the evaporator. 
     
     
         6 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 3 , wherein the diameter of the main body is about twice as large as the liquid line. 
     
     
         7 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 3 , wherein the evaporator comprises a liquid inlet connected to a first end of the liquid line and a vapor outlet connected to a first end of the vapor line, the condenser comprises a vapor inlet connected to a second end of the vapor line and a liquid outlet connected to a second end of the liquid line, and the entrance and the exit are located adjacent to the liquid outlet of the condenser and the liquid inlet of the evaporator, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 7 , wherein a diameter of the liquid inlet is no larger than that of the liquid outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 7 , wherein the separator separates the liquid line to a first portion connected between the liquid outlet and the entrance and a second portion connected between the exit and the liquid inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the separator comprises a tapered main body and an exit located adjacent to the evaporator, a diameter of the main body increasing from one end adjacent to the condenser towards the exit. 
     
     
         11 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 10 , wherein a largest diameter of the main body is about three times as large as the liquid line. 
     
     
         12 . A loop heat pipe comprising:
 an evaporator configured for thermally connecting with a heat generating electronic component and comprising a liquid inlet and a vapor outlet at two opposite sides thereof;   a condenser configured for thermally connecting with a heat dissipating component and comprising a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet at two opposite ends thereof;   a separator having a cross section larger than that that of the liquid line;   a vapor line connecting the vapor outlet with the vapor inlet;   a liquid line comprising a first portion connecting the liquid outlet with the separator and a second portion connecting the separator with the liquid inlet; and   a predetermined quantity of bi-phase working medium contained in the loop heat pipe, wherein the separator separates a liquid state working medium from a vapor state working medium when the working medium flows therethrough.   
     
     
         13 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 12 , wherein the separator comprises a hollow cylindrical main body, wherein an entrance and an exit are located at two opposite ends of the main body, the entrance and exit are located adjacent to the liquid outlet of the condenser and the liquid inlet of the evaporator, respectively, and a diameter of the main body is larger than that of the liquid line. 
     
     
         14 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 13 , wherein the entrance has a tapered shape with a diameter gradually increasing from the liquid outlet towards the main body. 
     
     
         15 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 14 , wherein the exit has a reverse tapered shape with a diameter gradually decreasing from the main body towards the liquid inlet. 
     
     
         16 . The loop heat pipe of  claim 12 , wherein the separator comprises a tapered main body and an exit located adjacent to the liquid inlet, and a diameter of the main body increases from the liquid outlet towards the exit.