초록 ▼

A unique rotary hermetic heat pipe is disclosed for transferring heat from an external source to an external heat sink. The heat pipe has a tapered condensing surface which is curved preferably to provide uniform pumping acceleration, the heat pipe being rotated at a velocity such that the component

A unique rotary hermetic heat pipe is disclosed for transferring heat from an external source to an external heat sink. The heat pipe has a tapered condensing surface which is curved preferably to provide uniform pumping acceleration, the heat pipe being rotated at a velocity such that the component of centrifugal acceleration in an axial direction parallel to the tapered surface is greater than 1G and so that the condensing surface is kept relatively free of liquid at any attitude. The heat pipe may be incorporated in an air conditioning apparatus so that it projects through a small wall opening. In the preferred air conditioning apparatus, a hollow hermetic air impeller is provided which contains a liquefied gaseous refrigerant, such as freon, and means are provided for compressing the refrigerant in the evaporator region of the heat pipe.

대표청구항 ▼

An air conditioning unit comprising a tapered hollow heat pipe with a length several times its diameter projecting through a relatively small opening in a vertical building wall, said pipe containing a sealed-in inventory of liquid including a reservoir in an evaporator region at the inside of said

An air conditioning unit comprising a tapered hollow heat pipe with a length several times its diameter projecting through a relatively small opening in a vertical building wall, said pipe containing a sealed-in inventory of liquid including a reservoir in an evaporator region at the inside of said wall and a condenser region at the outside of the wall, drive means for rotating said heat pipe, heat transfer means for removing heat from the inside air, means for transferring heat from the heat pipe to the outside air to condense the vapors in said condenser region, and means for compressing a gaseous refrigerant at the outer surface of said heat pipe in said evaporator region and for condensing said refrigerant by transfer of heat from said refrigerant to the liquid in said evaporator region, means for causing flow of the refrigerant through said heat transfer means and said compressing and condensing means, whereupon the refrigerant is liquefied in said condensing means and is evaporated in said heat transfer means by conduction of heat from said inside air. A process for operating an air conditioner having a housing mounted at an opening in a wall which separates a first body of air from a second body of air, a hollow hermetic member mounted for rotation about its central axis within said housing, means for compressing a gaseous refrigerant having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a hollow air impelling member mounted in said first body of air on said rotary member for rotation therewith, means connecting the interior cavity of said hollow impelling member with said compressor means to cause flow of said refrigerant through said cavity and said compressor means, and a vaporizable liquid located in said hollow rotary member, said hollow rotary member having a condenser region and an evaporator region, said evaporator region being located adjacent said compressor, said condenser region being located axially from said evaporator region in said second body of air, said hollow Rotary member having an internal surface of substantially circular cross section with its center line coaxial with the axis of rotation of said rotary member and its interior condensing surface having a taper, said condensing surface gradually decreasing in diameter in an axial direction away from said evaporator region, and motor means for driving said rotary member in rotation, the steps of which comprise: continually transferring heat from said first body of air to said refrigerant in said hollow air impelling member by rotating said impeller in said first body of air, whereupon heat therefrom is conducted by said impeller to said refrigerant which vaporizes and the resulting vapors flow to the inlet of said compressor means; continually transferring heat from said gaseous refrigerant to said liquid in said hollow rotary member while compressing said refrigerant vapors in said compressor means and condensing the compressed refrigerant, whereupon said vapors are reliquefied and give off heat which is conducted by said hollow rotary member at said evaporator region to said liquid in said hollow rotary member which vaporizes and the resulting vapors flow axially into said condenser region; continually transferring heat from said vapor in said hollow rotary member to said second body of air by condensing said vapor on the condensing surface of said hollow rotary member so that said vapor gives off heat which is conducted by said hollow rotary member through said condensing surface to said second body of air from the outer surface of said hollow rotary member opposite said condensing surface; and rapidly forcing the condensate off of said condensing surface as soon as it forms to return said condensate to the evaporator region and to keep the condensing surface relatively free of liquid by rotating said condensing surface in excess of a predetermined rotary speed which provides a high centrifugal acceleration having a component equal to at least 1G in an axial direction parallel to the tapered condensing surface in the condensate located on said condensing surface, whereby the process provides a high rate of heat flux from said first body of air to said second body of air.