초록 ▼

An improved conduit assembly for coupling a heat pipe evaporator with a Stirling engine heat exchanger. The conduit assembly features a cylindrical main tube section connected to a flared shell joining the heat exchanger of the Stirling engine. The flared shell provides an increasing cross-sectional

An improved conduit assembly for coupling a heat pipe evaporator with a Stirling engine heat exchanger. The conduit assembly features a cylindrical main tube section connected to a flared shell joining the heat exchanger of the Stirling engine. The flared shell provides an increasing cross-sectional area which reduces the velocity of vaporized heat pipe working fluid flowing from the heat pipe evaporator to the heat exchanger. Such reduced velocity has been found to minimize entrainment of liquid within the transmitted vapor. The conduit assembly further includes an internal small diameter liquid return duct which provides additional isolation of the liquid and vapor phases of the heat pipe working fluid as a means of further reducing entrainment. Surface tension breakers are provided which communicate the heat exchanger to the inlet end of the liquid return duct to wick away liquid working fluid from the heat exchanger. Contaminant gases within the heat pipe are removed through the use of an externally heated getter and an internal getter within the vapor flow path.

대표청구항 ▼

A heat pipe working fluid conduit assembly for transferring vaporized working fluid from a heat pipe evaporator to a heat exchanger of a Stirling engine and for returning liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said evaporator comprising: a conduit communicating with said evaporator and sai

A heat pipe working fluid conduit assembly for transferring vaporized working fluid from a heat pipe evaporator to a heat exchanger of a Stirling engine and for returning liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger to said evaporator comprising: a conduit communicating with said evaporator and said heat exchanger for transferring said vaporized working fluid, said conduit having a flared shell joining said heat exchanger whereby the cross-sectional area of said conduit increases as said vaporized working fluid approaches said heat exchanger, and a duct disposed inside said conduit extending into said flared shell and having an inlet within said flared shell for receiving said liquid working fluid from said heat exchanger and returning said liquid to said evaporator.