Loop heat pipe

Abstract

A loop heat pipe includes an evaporator to vaporize a working fluid due to heat supplied from an external heat source; a condenser to cause the vaporized working fluid to condense; and connecting lines to connect the evaporator and the condenser in a loop, wherein the evaporator includes a first space defined by a set of walls including a contact wall that comes into contact with the external heat source, a second space provided adjacent to at least one of the walls other than the contact wall, and a through-hole formed in a dividing wall separating the first space and the second space to allow the first space and the second space to communicate with each other.

1 . A loop heat pipe comprising:
 an evaporator to vaporize a working fluid due to heat supplied from an external heat source;   a condenser to cause the vaporized working fluid to condense; and   connecting lines to connect the evaporator and the condenser in a loop,   wherein the evaporator includes   a first space having set of walls including a contact wall that comes into contact with the external heat source,   a second space provided adjacent to at least one of the walls other than the contact wall, and   a through-hole formed in a dividing wall separating the first space and the second space to allow the first space and the second space to communicate with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The loop heat pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the second space is provided adjacent to a wall opposite to the contact wall. 
     
     
         3 . The loop heat pipe according to  claim 2 , wherein a vapor pressure of the working fluid is higher than an atmospheric pressure, and wherein a thickness of an outer wall separating the second space and the atmosphere is less than a thickness of the dividing wall between the first space and the second space. 
     
     
         4 . The loop heat pipe according to  claim 2 , wherein a vapor pressure of the working fluid is higher than an atmospheric pressure, and wherein the dividing wall between the first space and the second space is swelled toward the first space. 
     
     
         5 . The loop heat pipe according to  claim 3 , wherein the working fluid is selected from a group of pentane, butane and ammonia. 
     
     
         6 . The loop heat pipe according to  claim 4 , wherein the working fluid is selected from a group of pentane, butane and ammonia. 
     
     
         7 . The loop heat pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein a porous material is provided along an inner wall of the first space, and a flow path is formed in the porous material through which the working fluid supplied from one of the connecting lines passes. 
     
     
         8 . The loop heat pipe according to  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator is made of a material with a thermal conductivity higher than that of stainless. 
     
     
         9 . A loop heat pipe comprising:
 an evaporator to vaporize a working fluid due to heat supplied from an external heat source;   a condenser to cause the vaporized working fluid to condense; and   connecting lines to connect the evaporator and the condenser in a loop,   wherein the evaporator includes   a first space having a first set of walls including a contact wall that comes into contact with the external heat source, and   a second space provided adjacent to at least one of said walls other than the contact wall and defined by a second set of walls, the second space being filled with a second fluid that has a saturated vapor pressure higher than that of the working fluid at a same temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The loop heat pipe according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a part of the second fluid is in a liquid phase when the loop heat pipe is not activated. 
     
     
         11 . The loop heat pipe according to  claim 9 , wherein a thickness of a dividing wall separating the first space and the second space is less than a thickness of an outer wall separating the second space from an atmosphere. 
     
     
         12 . The loop heat pipe according to  claim 9 , wherein a porous material is provided along an inner wall of the first space, and a flow path is formed in the porous material through which the working fluid supplied from one of the connecting lines passes. 
     
     
         13 . The loop heat pipe according to  claim 9 , wherein the evaporator is made of a material with a thermal conductivity higher than that of stainless.