Modular Evaporator Assembly for a Loop Heat Pipe Thermal Control System

Abstract

An evaporator assembly including at least one compensation chamber and at least one capillary pump that includes a primary wick, the evaporator assembly including a secondary wick extending through the at least one compensation chamber and the at least one capillary pump and contacting the primary wick thereof. The at least one compensation chamber and the at least one capillary pump are arranged parallel to one another along respective distinct axes.

1 . An evaporator assembly ( 2 ) comprising:
 at least one compensation chamber ( 10 ) and at least one capillary pump ( 11 ) comprising a primary wick ( 15 ), the evaporator assembly ( 2 ) including a secondary wick ( 16 ) extending through the at least one compensation chamber ( 10 ) and the at least one capillary pump ( 11 ) and contacting the primary wick ( 15 ) thereof, characterized in that the at least one compensation chamber ( 10 ) and the at least one capillary pump ( 11 ) are arranged parallel to one another along respective distinct axes (A, B).   
     
     
         2 . The evaporator assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , including a plurality of compensation chambers ( 10 ) and a plurality of capillary pumps ( 11 ) arranged parallel to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The evaporator assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , including a plurality of parallel branches ( 20 ,  21 ), each branch including at least two compensation chambers ( 10 ) or capillary pumps ( 11 ). 
     
     
         4 . The evaporator assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , including a first manifold ( 18 ) connected to a liquid inlet port ( 8 ) and to first ends of the compensation chambers ( 10 ) and a second manifold ( 19 ) connecting respective second ends of the compensation chambers ( 10 ) and first ends of the capillary pumps ( 11 ). 
     
     
         5 . The evaporator assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the compensation chambers ( 10 ) are disposed at opposite sides of the evaporator assembly ( 2 ), the capillary pumps ( 11 ) being arranged between the compensation chambers ( 10 ). 
     
     
         6 . The evaporator assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that the capillary pumps ( 11 ) form a tube bundle of a finned heat exchanger configured to extract heat from a gas flow. 
     
     
         7 . The evaporator assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that the capillary pumps ( 11 ) form a tube bundle connected by common thermally conductive plates configured to extract heat from an extended surface area. 
     
     
         8 . The evaporator assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein vapor outlet ports ( 4 ) of the capillary pumps ( 11 ) are connected to a common vapor outlet manifold ( 25 ). 
     
     
         9 . A loop heat pipe (LHP) system including at least one evaporator assembly ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1  and at least one condenser ( 3 ).