초록 ▼

An improved corrosion-inhibiting system for use in heat pipes operating at relatively high temperatures, such as 300° F. to 500° F. In the illustrated embodiment, a corrosion inhibitor aqueous solution is provided having approximately 1% to 5% by weight sodium chromate. Glass which goes into solutio

An improved corrosion-inhibiting system for use in heat pipes operating at relatively high temperatures, such as 300° F. to 500° F. In the illustrated embodiment, a corrosion inhibitor aqueous solution is provided having approximately 1% to 5% by weight sodium chromate. Glass which goes into solution into the sodium chromate at temperature of approximately 300° F. and above is included in the system. The solution of the glass in the sodium chromate solution permits the glass to be carried to the condenser portion of the heat pipe in small solution droplets which are transported by the vaporized fluid so as to be adsorbed in the protective layer on the inner surface of the heat pipe tube. Glass dissolved in the boiling liquid solution is adsorbed on the wall surface in the evaporator portion of the heat pipe. Pyrex glass has been found to provide excellent results in the system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a heat pipe having a sealed enclosure defining an evaporator portion and a condenser portion, said enclosure further defining an inner surface portion, and a vaporizable heat transfer liquid in said evaporator portion selected from liquids having a boiling point no higher than a preselected op

1. In a heat pipe having a sealed enclosure defining an evaporator portion and a condenser portion, said enclosure further defining an inner surface portion, and a vaporizable heat transfer liquid in said evaporator portion selected from liquids having a boiling point no higher than a preselected operating temperature of the heat pipe, the improvement comprising corrosion-inhibiting means within said enclosure comprising a coating on said inner surface comprised essentially solely of material which dissolves in the heat transfer liquid at the existing temperature of the heat transfer liquid permitting deposition of said material on said inner surface portion to form said coating thereon effectively preventing corrosion of said inner surface portion by said liquid at said operating temperature of the heat pipe. 2. The heat pipe structure of claim 1 wherein said temperature at which said coating material dissolves is approximately 300° F. 3. In a heat pipe having a sealed enclosure defining an evaporator portion and a condenser portion, said enclosure further defining an inner surface portion, and a vaporizable heat transfer liquid in said evaporator portion selected from liquids having a boiling point below a preselected temperature, the improvement comprising corrosion-inhibiting means within said enclosure comprising: a first corrosion-inhibiting material dissolved in said liquid for forming an inhibitor solution for inhibiting corrosion of said inner surface portion of the enclosure by said heat transfer liquid; and a second corrosion-inhibiting material in said enclosure selected from coating materials which dissolve in the inhibitor solution at approximately said preselected temperature for deposition on said inner surface portion to form a coating thereon effectively preventing corrosion of said inner surface portion by said liquid at temperatures above said preselected temperature, said liquid comprising water, said inner surface being ferrous, and said first corrosion-inhibiting material comprising sodium chromate. 4. The heat pipe structure of claim 3 wherein said liquid comprises water, said inner surface is ferrous, and said first corrosion-inhibiting material comprises sodium chromate forms a solution in the range of approximately 1% to 5% thereof in said water. 5. In a heat pipe having a sealed enclosure defining an evaporator portion and a condenser portion, said enclosure further defining an inner surface portion, and a vaporizable heat transfer liquid in said evaporator portion selected from liquids having a boiling point below a preselected temperature, the improvement comprising corrosion-inhibiting means within said enclosure comprising: a first corrosion-inhibiting material dissolved in said liquid for forming an inhibitor solution for inhibiting corrosion of said inner surface portion of the enclosure by said heat transfer liquid; and a second corrosion-inhibiting material in said enclosure selected from coating materials which dissolve in the inhibitor solution at approximately said preselected temperature for deposition on said inner surface portion to form a coating thereon effectively preventing corrosion of said inner surface portion by said liquid at temperatures above said preselected temperature, said second corrosion-inhibiting material comprising glass. 6. The heat pipe structure of claim 5 wherein said glass comprises Pyrex.RTM. glass. 7. The heat pipe structure of claim 5 wherein said second corrosion-inhibiting glass material comprises a Pyrex.RTM. glass rod. 8. The heat pipe structure of claim 5 wherein said second corrosion-inhibiting glass material comprises glass containing borate and aluminum oxide. 9. In a heat pipe having a sealed enclosure defining an evaporator portion and a condenser portion, said enclosure further defining an inner surface portion, and a vaporizable heat transfer liquid in said evaporator portion selected from liquids having a boiling point below a preselected temperature, the improvement comprising corrosion-inhibiting means within said enclosure comprising: a first corrosion-inhibiting material dissolved in said liquid for forming an inhibitor solution for inhibiting corrosion of said inner surface portion of the enclosure by said heat transfer liquid; and a second corrosion-inhibiting material in said enclosure selected from coating materials which dissolve in the inhibitor solution at approximately said preselected temperature for deposition on said inner surface portion to form a coating thereon effectively preventing corrosion of said inner surface portion by said liquid at temperatures above said preselected temperature, said sealed enclosure being free of noncondensable gases. 10. In a heat pipe having a sealed enclosure defining an evaporator portion and a condenser portion, said enclosure further defining an inner surface portion, and a vaporizable heat transfer liquid in said evaporator portion selected from liquids having a boiling point below a preselected temperature, the improvement comprising corrosion-inhibiting means within said enclosure comprising: a first corrosion-inhibiting material dissolved in said liquid for forming an inhibitor solution for inhibiting corrosion of said inner surface portion of the enclosure by said heat transfer liquid; and a second corrosion-inhibiting material in said enclosure selected from coating materials which dissolve in the inhibitor solution at approximately said preselected temperature for deposition on said inner surface portion to form a coating thereon effectively preventing corrosion of said inner surface portion by said liquid at temperatures above said preselected temperature, said first corrosion-inhibiting material being present in a quantity preselected to prevent solidification of said liquid at a temperature substantially below the normal solidification temperature of said liquid. 11. The heat pipe structure of claim 3 wherein said first corrosion-inhibiting material will getter any hydrogen produced in a reaction between said water in said heat pipe enclosure and said ferrous inner surface of said heat pipe enclosure. 12. In a heat pipe having a sealed enclosure defining an evaporator portion and a condenser portion, said enclosure further defining a ferrous inner surface portion, and aqueous transfer liquid in said evaporator portion having a boiling point below approximately 300° F., the improvement comprising corrosion-inhibiting means within said enclosure comprising: sodium chromate dissolved in said heat transfer aqueous liquid forming an inhibitor solution for inhibiting corrosion of said inner surface portion of the enclosure; and glass material disposed in said enclosure which dissolves in the inhibitor solution at approximately said preselected temperature for deposition on said inner surface portion to form a coating thereon effectively preventing corrosion of said inner surface portion by said liquid at temperature above said preselected temperature. 13. The heat pipe structure of claim 12 wherein said inhibitor solution comprises an approximately 1% to 5% solution of the sodium chromate in said liquid. 14. The heat pipe structure of claim 12 wherein said liquid comprises pure water. 15. The heat pipe structure of claim 12 wherein said glass material comprises Pyrex.RTM. glass. 16. The heat pipe structure of claim 12 wherein said enclosure surface portion is formed of stainless steel. 17. The heat pipe structure of claim 13 wherein said inhibitor solution will getter any hydrogen developed as a result of a reaction between the ferrous inner surface of said enclosure and said aqueous transfer liquid. 18. The method of preventing corrosion of the inner surface of a sealed enclosure defining a heat pipe by an aqueous heat transfer liquid in said enclosure, comprising: dissolving a first corrosion-inhibiting material in the liquid to form an inhibitor solution for inhibiting corrosion of said inner surface of the enclosure; dissolving a coating material in said heat transfer liquid selected from coating materials which dissolve in the liquid at a temperature no greater than the operating temperature of said heat pipe; and causing deposition of a layer consisting essentially solely of said coating material on said inner surface of the heat pipe to define corrosion-inhibiting means thereon effectively preventing corrosion of said inner surface by said aqueous liquid said operating temperature. 19. The method of preventing corrosion of the inner surface of a sealed enclosure defining a heat pipe by an aqueous heat transfer liquid in said enclosure, comprising the steps of: dissolving a first corrosion-inhibiting material in the liquid to form an inhibitor solution for inhibiting corrosion of said inner surface of the enclosure; and providing a second corrosion-inhibiting material in said enclosure selected from coating materials which dissolve in the inhibitor solution at a temperature greater than the boiling temperature of said solution for deposition on said inner surface portion to form a coating thereon effectively preventing corrosion thereof by said aqueous liquid at temperatures above said boiling temperature, said second corrosion-inhibiting material comprising glass. 20. The method of preventing corrosion of the inner surface of a heat pipe of claim 19 wherein said second corrosion-inhibiting material comprises Pyrex.RTM. glass. 21. The method of preventing corrosion of the inner surface of a heat pipe of claim 18 wherein said heat pipe is operated at temperatures of up to approximately 500° F. 22. The method of preventing corrosion of the inner surface of a sealed enclosure defining a heat pipe by an aqueous heat transfer liquid in said enclosure, comprising the steps of: dissolving a first corrosion-inhibiting material in the liquid to form an inhibitor solution for inhibiting corrosion of said inner surface of the enclosure; and providing a second corrosion-inhibiting material in said enclosure selected from coating materials which dissolve in the inhibitor solution at a temperature greater than the boiling temperature of said solution for deposition on said inner surface portion to form a coating thereon effectively preventing corrosion thereof by said aqueous liquid at temperatures above said boiling temperature, said first corrosion-inhibiting material being provided in sufficient quantity to prevent freezing of said inhibitor solution at temperatures substantially below 32° F. 23. The method of preventing corrosion of the inner surface of a sealed enclosure defining a heat pipe by an aqueous heat transfer liquid in said enclosure, comprising the steps of: dissolving a first corrosion-inhibiting material in the liquid to form an inhibitor solution for inhibiting corrosion of said inner surface of the enclosure; and providing a second corrosion-inhibiting material in said enclosure selected from coating materials which dissolve in the inhibitor solution at a temperature greater than the boiling temperature of said solution for deposition on said inner surface portion to form a coating thereon effectively preventing corrosion thereof by said aqueous liquid at temperatures above said boiling temperature, said first corrosion-inhibiting material being provided in sufficient quantity to getter any hydrogen produced in an aqueous heat transfer liquid and heat pipe inner surface reaction. 24. The heat pipe structure of claim 1 wherein said coating material comprises glass. 25. The heat pipe structure of claim 1 wherein said coating material comprises glass and said heat transfer liquid further includes a corrosion-inhibiting material. 26. The heat pipe structure of claim 1 further including a second corrosion-inhibiting material dissolved in said liquid. 27. The method of claim 18 including the further step of dissolving a second corrosion-inhibiting material in said liquid.