Heat transport device

Abstract

A heat transport device ( 1 A) is provided with: a circulation path unit ( 10 ) in which a heat recovery unit ( 11 ) that vaporizing a heat transport medium and a condensation unit ( 12 ) that condenses the heat transport medium vaporized in the heat recovery unit ( 11 ) are incorporated, and which has a vacuum state; a branch path unit ( 20 ) which branches from the circulation path unit ( 10 ), and in which a valve ( 22 ) capable of controlling flow is incorporated; and an ECU ( 40 A) which implements a first control unit and is configured to, when it is recognized that there is an increase in the pressure within the circulation path unit ( 10 ) under the same operating condition, open and close the valve ( 22 ) in the state in which the pressure within the circulation path unit ( 10 ) is higher than a predetermined pressure (α).

1 . A heat transport device comprising:
 a circulation path unit in which a heat recovery unit that vaporizing a heat transport medium and a condensation unit that condenses the heat transport medium vaporized in the heat recovery unit are incorporated, and which has a vacuum state;   a branch path unit which branches from the circulation path unit, and in which a valve capable of controlling flow is incorporated; and   a first control unit configured to open and close the valve in a state in which pressure in the circulation path unit is higher than a predetermined pressure when it is detected or estimated that the circulation path unit sucks air, wherein:   the heat transport device further comprises a reserve tank that stores, in a liquid phase, heat transport medium with which the circulation path unit is to be replenished, the branch path unit being connected to the reserve tank so as to have an opening located in a position lower than a height of a liquid level that is to be at least ensured in the serve tank; and wherein   the heat transport device further comprises a replenishment quantity calculation unit that calculates a quantity of heat transport medium with which the circulation path unit should be replenished from the reserve tank, and   a second control unit configured to open and close the valve in accordance with the quantity of heat transport medium calculated by the replenishment quantity calculation unit in a state in which the pressure in the circulation path unit is lower than the predetermined pressure after the first control unit opens and closes the valve.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The heat transport device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a freezing determination unit that determines whether the heat transport medium circulating in the circulation path unit has a possibility of freezing; and   a reduction-in-quantity correction unit that performs a reduction-in-quantity correction in which the quantity of heat transport medium is reduced when an operation start condition is met from an operation stop state if the freezing determination unit determines that the heat transport medium that circulates in the circulation path unit has a possibility of freezing.   
     
     
         4 . The heat transport device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat transport medium naturally circulates in the circulation path unit while a sequence of receiving heat in a condensed state in the heat recovery unit and radiating heat in a vaporized state in the condensation unit is repeatedly carried out. 
     
     
         5 . The heat transport device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat transport unit is mounted in a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, and the heat recovery unit recovers exhaust heat of the internal combustion engine.