Heat pipe with vaporized working fluid flow accelerator

Abstract

An exemplary heat pipe includes a hollow tube, a wick structure, a working fluid, and an accelerator. The tube includes an evaporator section and a condenser section along a longitudinal direction thereof. The wick structure is adhered on inner surfaces of the tube and inner surfaces of the wick structure surround an inner space therebetween. The working fluid is contained in the wick structure. The accelerator is received in the tube and edges thereof abut against the inner surfaces of the wick structure to divide the inner space to two parts. The working fluid in the wick structure of the evaporator section absorbs heat from a heat-generating component and is vaporized to vapor, and the vapor flows through the accelerator and moves faster and faster towards the condenser section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pipe for removing heat from a heat-generating component in thermal contact therewith, the heat pipe comprising:
 a hollow tube comprising an evaporator section and a condenser section defined in turn along a longitudinal direction thereof;   a wick structure lining inner surfaces of the tube, inner surfaces of the wick structure defining an inner space therebetween;   working fluid contained in the wick structure; and   an accelerator received in the tube, edges of the accelerator abutting against the inner surfaces of the wick structure to divide the inner space into two parts;   wherein the working fluid in the wick structure of the evaporator section absorbs heat from the heat-generating component and is vaporized to vapor, and the vapor flows through the accelerator and moves faster and faster through the accelerator towards the condenser section.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the accelerator is an elongated plate and comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first and second surfaces respectively face the evaporator section and the condenser section, a plurality of through holes is defined in the accelerator and extends through the first surface and the second surface, and the vapor flows through the through holes and moves towards the condenser section. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of each through hole decreases from an inlet near to the evaporator section to an outlet near to the condenser section. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pipe of  claim 3 , wherein a cross-sectional view of each through hole is circular. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the accelerator is made of a metal or metal alloy with a high heat conductivity coefficient. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the accelerator is located at a joint of the evaporator section and the condenser section. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of fins is formed on an outer periphery of the condenser section. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the tube further comprises an adiabatic section between the evaporator section and the condenser section along the longitudinal direction of the tube, and the accelerator is located at a joint of the evaporator section and the adiabatic section. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises two condenser sections, the two condenser sections are located at opposite sides of the evaporator section, and two accelerators are respectively located at a joint of the evaporator section and the condenser section. 
     
     
         10 . The heat pipe of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of fins is formed on an outer periphery of each condenser sections. 
     
     
         11 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is made of metal or metal alloy with a high heat conductivity coefficient. 
     
     
         12 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the wick structure extends longitudinally from the evaporator section to the condenser section. 
     
     
         13 . A heat pipe for removing heat from a heat-generating component in thermal contact therewith, the heat pipe comprising:
 a hollow tube comprising an evaporator section and a condenser section defined in turn along a longitudinal direction thereof;   a wick structure lining inner surfaces of the tube, inner surfaces of the wick structure defining an inner space therebetween;   working fluid contained in the wick structure; and   an elongated plate received in the tube, edges of the elongated plate abutting against the inner surfaces of the wick structure to divide the inner space into two parts, and a plurality of through holes defined in the elongated plate;   wherein the working fluid in the wick structure of the evaporator section absorbs heat from the heat-generating component and is vaporized to vapor, and the vapor flows through the through holes and moves faster and faster in the through holes towards the condenser section.   
     
     
         14 . The heat pipe of  claim 13 , wherein a diameter of each through hole decreases from an inlet near to the evaporator section to an outlet near to the condenser section. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pipe of  claim 13 , wherein the elongated plate is made of a metal or metal alloy with a high heat conductivity coefficient. 
     
     
         16 . The heat pipe of  claim 13 , wherein an inner surface of each through hole is a smooth, annular surface. 
     
     
         17 . The heat pipe of  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of fins is formed on an outer periphery of the condenser section. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pipe of  claim 13 , wherein the tube comprises two condenser sections, the two condenser sections are located at opposite sides of the evaporator section, and two accelerators are respectively located at a joint of the evaporator section and the condenser section.