Description

EVAPORATOR

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates generally to an evaporator and, more particularly, to a wick structure provided inside an evaporator. Background Art

[2] A cooling device using an evaporator generally includes an evaporator evaporating working fluid; a condenser connected to an inlet and an outlet of the evaporator to condense the vaporized and introduced working fluid and to discharge the condensed working fluid to the evaporator; and a heat generating member contacted with the evaporator to transfer heat to the liquid working fluid introduced into the evaporator.

[3] Such a cooling device is a two-phase fluid heat exchanger vaporizing the liquid working fluid introduced into an evaporator using capillary phenomenon. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of such a type of evaporator.

[4] The two-phase fluid heat exchanger illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an evaporator 10 and a condenser 11. The evaporator 10 and the condenser 11 are connected to each other by a pipe and form a loop. A heat load 2 is applied to working fluid 3 sucked by the capillary force 6 of a wick 1, to vaporize the working fluid 3 so that the working fluid 3 is circulated and heat is transported.

[5] A plurality of protrusions having a predetermined pattern, are provided on the bottom of the evaporator 10. A plurality of wicks are inserted into the spaces defined by the protrusions respectively. The protrusions support and maintain the wicks respectively. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] However, due to the wicks made of a flexible material, an operation for inserting the wicks into the defined spaces is bothersome. Further, since the wicks are face- contacted with the protrusions, the working liquid permeated into the wicks cannot be properly vaporized. Technical Solution

[7] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the present invention provides an evaporator that can solve the problems.

[8] In order to achieve the objects, the present invention provides an evaporator including a chamber having an inlet connected to an outlet of a condenser on one side thereof, an outlet connected to an inlet of the condenser on the upper portion thereof, and an undersurface of the chamber face-contacted with a heat generating member, wherein a heat-transferable and flexible wall body that is bent several times in zigzags

is provided within the chamber of the evaporator, the undersurfaces of the zigzagged shape of the wall body are contacted with the bottom surface of the chamber of the evaporator, and wicks are inserted into a plurality of V-shaped spaces defined by the zigzagged shape of the wall body and extend along the lengths of the spaces respectively.

[9] The present invention also provides an evaporator including a chamber having an inlet connected to an outlet of a condenser on one side thereof, an outlet connected to an inlet of the condenser on the upper portion thereof, and an undersurface of the chamber face-contacted with a heat generating member, wherein a plurality of heat- transferable, elongated and erected protrusions are provided within the chamber of the evaporator, the undersurfaces of the erected protrusions are contacted with the bottom surface of the chamber of the evaporator, the erected protrusions are inserted into bores of slit type formed in wicks in a male-female coupling manner respectively, and the wicks are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval.

Advantageous Effects

[10] The present invention enables an operator to easily insert wicks into a wall body, and can easily vaporize working liquid permeated into the wicks and discharge it via shielding holes formed in a wall portion of the wall body, passages defined by the wall body and through the outlet of the evaporator, although the wicks are face-contacted with the wall portion of the wall body.

Brief Description of the Drawings [11] The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[12] FIG. 1 is a concept view of a two-phase fluid heat exchanger;

[13] FIG. 2 is a concept view illustrating an evaporator employing wicks and a wall body according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [14] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the states of the wall body when the wall body is pulled toward both sides and is pushed from both sides; [15] FIG. 4 is an evaporator illustrating an evaporator employing wicks and a wall body according to the second embodiment of the present invention; [16] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the states of the wall body when the wall body is pulled toward both sides and is pushed from both sides; and [17] FIG. 6 is an evaporator illustrating an evaporator employing wicks and a wall body according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [18] Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail

with reference to the accompanying drawings. [19] In FIG. 2, the reference numeral 100 generally indicates an evaporator having wicks therein according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [20] The evaporator 100 includes a chamber C. The chamber C has an inlet 101 connected to an outlet of a condenser on one side thereof and an outlet 102 connected to an inlet of the condenser on the upper portion thereof. [21] An undersurface of the chamber C is face-contacted with a heat generating member

103. For example, the heat generating member 103 may include electronic circuit elements mounted in a computer. [22] A heat- transferable and flexible wall body 104 that is bent several times in zigzags is provided within the chamber C of the evaporator 100. Opposite ends of the wall body

104 are contacted with opposite inner side walls of the chamber C of the evaporator 100, and the undersurfaces of the zigzagged shape 105 of the wall body 104 are contacted with the bottom surface of the chamber C of the evaporator 100.

[23] Wicks W are inserted into a plurality of V-shaped spaces defined by the zigzagged shape 105 of the wall body 104 and extend along the lengths of the spaces respectively. The wicks W have such a size and shape that they can be inserted into the V-shaped spaces defined by the zigzagged shape 105 respectively.

[24] A plurality of through-holes 107 are formed in inclined portions 106 of the zigzagged shape 105.

[25] The through-holes 107 are desirably opened in a direction inclined toward one side, in view of heat transfer.

[26] In other words, if the number of through-holes formed in the inclined portions becomes larger, the contact area of the inclined portions 106 with the wicks W becomes smaller, decreasing heat transfer efficiency, but if the through-holes 107 formed in the inclined portions 106 are opened in the direction inclined toward one side (refer to FIG. 3), the contact area is optimally prevented from being reduced.

[27] An operation for inserting the wicks W into the V-shaped spaces defined by the zigzagged shape 105 of the wall body 104 can be easily carried out, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In other words, if the distance between the trough and the trough or the crest and the crest of the zigzagged shape becomes longer by pulling, the wall body 104 bent in zigzags, toward opposite sides, the V-shaped spaces defined by the zigzagged shape

105 also become larger. In this state, if after an operator positions the wicks W within the V-shaped spaces, the wall body 104 is pressed in a direction opposite to the direction in which the wall body 104 has been pulled, the V-shaped spaces are contracted and the inclined portions 106 defining the V-shaped spaces are face- contacted with the wicks W. Furthermore, the inclined portions 106 having high surface roughness due to the through-holes 107, cooperate with each other and firmly

maintain the wicks W within the V-shaped spaces.

[28] The evaporator employing the wicks and the wall body according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be operated as follows.

[29] The working fluid condensed by the condenser is introduced into the chamber C of the evaporator 100 through the inlet 100. The working fluid introduced into the chamber C permeates the wicks W by capillary phenomenon. The heat of the heat generating member 103 face-contacted with the undersurface of the chamber C is transferred to the zigzagged shape 105 whose undersurfaces are contacted with the bottom of the chamber C. The working fluid that has permeated the wicks W is heated and vaporized by the heat of the zigzagged shape 105. The vaporized working fluid is efficiently discharged through the through-holes 107 formed in the inclined portions 106 and via inverted V-shaped passages defined by the zigzag shape 105 and then is discharged to the condenser through the outlet 102 formed on the upper portion of the chamber C. Mode for the Invention

[30] Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

[31] In FIG. 4, the reference numeral 200 generally indicates an evaporator having wicks therein according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[32] The evaporator 200 includes a chamber C. The chamber C has an inlet 201 connected to an outlet of a condenser on one side thereof and an outlet 202 connected to an inlet of the condenser on the upper end thereof.

[33] An undersurface of the chamber C is face-contacted with a heat generating member

203.

[34] A heat- transferable and flexible wall body 104 that is bent several times in zigzags is provided within the chamber C of the evaporator 200 as illustrated in Figs 4 and 5. Opposite ends of the wall body 204 are contacted with opposite inner walls of the chamber C of the evaporator 200, and undersurfaces of the zigzagged shape 205 of the wall body 204 are contacted with the bottom surface of the chamber C of the evaporator 200.

[35] Wicks W are mounted on upward protrusions 205a of the zigzagged shape 205 of the wall body 204 along the lengths of the upward protrusions 205a in a male-female coupling manner. Accordingly, the wicks W have bores B of slit type having such a size and shape that can be fitted to the shape of the elongated upward protrusions 205a of the zigzagged shape 205 at lower portion thereof.

[36] A plurality of through-holes 207 are formed in the inclined portions 206 of the zigzagged shape 205.

[37] In this case, the through-holes 207 are desirably opened in a direction inclined toward one side, in view of heat transfer as mentioned in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[38] An operation of inserting the elongated upward protrusions 205a of the zigzagged shape 205 into the bores B of the wicks W can be easily carried out as illustrated in FIG. 5. In other words, if the transverse distance between the trough and the trough or the crest and the crest of the zigzagged shape becomes longer by pulling, the wall body 204 bent in zigzags, toward opposite sides, the distance between the trough and the trough or the crest and the crest of the zigzagged shape 205 also becomes longer. In this state, if after an operator positions the bores B of the wicks W on the upward protrusions 205a, and the wicks W are pressed in a direction opposite to the direction in which the wall body 204 has been pulled, the transverse distance between the trough and the trough or the crest and the crest of the wall body 204 becomes shorter and the inclined portions 206 are face-contacted with the bores B of the wicks W . Furthermore, the inclined portions 206 having high surface roughness due to the through- holes 207, cooperate with each other and firmly restrain the wicks W in the wall body 204 with the wicks W maintaining a predetermined interval.

[39] The evaporator employing the wicks and the wall body according to the second embodiment of the present invention can be operated as follows.

[40] The working fluid condensed by the condenser is introduced into the chamber C of the evaporator 200 through the inlet 201. The working fluid introduced into the chamber C permeates the wicks W by capillary phenomenon. The heat of the heat generating member 203 face-contacted with the undersurface of the chamber C is transferred to the zigzagged shape 205 whose undersurfaces are contacted with the bottom of the chamber C. The working fluid that has permeated the wicks W is heated and vaporized by the heat of the zigzagged shape 205. The vaporized working fluid is efficiently discharged through the through-holes 107 formed in the inclined portions 206, via inverted V-shaped passages defined by the zigzag shape 205, and through the spaces between the wicks W and then is discharged to the condenser through the outlet 202 formed at the upper portion of the chamber C.

[41] Hereinafter, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6.

[42] In FIG. 6, the reference numeral 300 generally indicates an evaporator having wicks therein according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[43] The evaporator 300 includes a chamber C. The chamber C has an inlet (not shown) connected to an outlet of a condenser on one side thereof and an outlet (not shown) connected to an inlet of the condenser on the upper portion thereof, as described in the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

[44] An undersurface of the chamber C is face-contacted with a heat generating member

303.

[45] A plurality of heat-transferable elongated and erected wall bodies 304 are disposed in a row by a predetermined interval on the bottom surface of the interior of the chamber C and protrude from the bottom surface of the chamber C.

[46] Wicks W are mounted to the wall bodies 304 extended lengthwise, in a male-female coupling manner. Accordingly, the wicks W have bores B of slit type having such a size and shape that can be fitted to the shape of the wall bodies 304 at lower portions thereof.

[47] Bores 304a of slit type are formed in the wall bodies 304 respectively and a plurality of through-holes 307 are formed on opposite side walls defining the bores 304a of slit type by a predetermined interval. In this case, the through-holes 307 are desirably opened in a direction inclined toward one side in view of heat transfer as mentioned in the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

[48] If the wall bodies 304 are inserted into the bores B of the wicks W , the wall bodies

304 are face-contacted with the inner surface of the bores B respectively. Furthermore, the wall bodies 304 having high surface roughness due to the through-holes 307, firmly restrain the wicks W with the wicks W maintaining a predetermined interval.

[49] The evaporator employing the wicks and the wall body according to the third embodiment of the present invention can be operated as follows.

[50] The working fluid condensed by the condenser is introduced into the chamber C of the evaporator 300 through the inlet. The working fluid introduced into the chamber C permeates the wicks W by capillary phenomenon. The heat of the heat generating member 303 face-contacted with the undersurface of the chamber C is transferred to the wall bodies 304 contacted with the bottom of the chamber C. The working fluid that has permeated the wicks W is heated and vaporized by the heat of the wall bodies 304. The vaporized working fluid is efficiently discharged through the through-holes 307 formed in the wall bodies 304, via the bores of slit type defined by the side walls of the wall body 304, and through the spaces between the wicks W and then is discharged to the condenser through the outlet 302 formed at the upper portion of the chamber C.

[51] While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the system and the method are only examples of the present invention and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.