Apparatus for collecting and transporting heat energy

Claim 1

An apparatus for collecting and transporting thermal energy as the vapor of a selected fluid, from a heat source having an intensity sufficient to vaporize the fluid, and to a location where condensation will occur, and comprising: (a) an elongated heat absorption chamber exposed to the heat source and positioned substantially horizontally to provide an elongated lower portion within the chamber constituting a sump to hold a puddle of said fluid and an elongated upper portion above the puddle constituting a vapor space; (b) a vapor transport conduit extended from the chamber above the puddle and to said location; and (c) a fluid inflow means adapted to supply fluid to the puddle and maintain the level of the puddle as fluid therein evaporates when the chamber is heated; wherein said fluid inflow means includes: (d) a fluid supply line adjacent to the chamber and means to partially fill the fluid supply line to a substantially constant free surface fluid level which is essentially the same as the fluid level of the puddle; (e) a conduit connecting the supply line and the sump which is below the said fluid levels to form a trap to provide continuous communication of fluid from the supply line to the puddle; (f) a means to balance the pressures in the chamber and in the fluid supply line to maintain the aforesaid same fluid levels in the chambers and in the supply line; and (g) the source end of the fluid supply line being above the heat absorption chamber to permit a continuous flow of fluid to be supplied from a high point in the line and to flow past the chamber.

Claim 2

An apparatus for collecting and transporting thermal energy as the vapor of a selected fluid, from a heat source having an intensity sufficient to vaporize the fluid, and to a location where condensation will occur, and comprising: (a) an elongated heat absorption chamber exposed to the heat source and positioned substantially horizontally to provide an elongated lower portion within the chamber constituting a sump to hold a puddle of said fluid and an elongated upper portion above the puddle constituting a vapor space; (b) a vapor transport conduit extended from the chamber above the puddle and to said location; and (c) a fluid inflow means adapted to supply fluid to the puddle and maintain the level of the puddle as fluid therein evaporates when the chamber is heated; wherein said fluid inflow means includes: (d) a fluid supply line adjacent to the chamber and means to partially fill the fluid supply line to a substantially constant free surface fluid level which is essentially the same as the fluid level of the puddle; (e) a conduit connecting the supply line and the sump which is below the said fluid levels to form a trap to provide continuous communication of fluid from the supply line to the puddle; (f) a means to balance the pressures in the chamber and in the fluid supply line to maintain the aforesaid same fluid levels in the chambers and in the supply line; and (g) the source end of the fluid supply line being above the heat absorption chamber to permit a continuous flow of fluid to be supplied from a high point in the line and to flow past the chamber.

Claim 5

An apparatus for collecting and transporting thermal energy as the vapor of a selected fluid, from a heat source having an intensity sufficient to vaporize the fluid, and to a location where condensation will occur, and comprising: (a) an elongated heat absorption chamber exposed to the heat source and positioned substantially horizontally to provide an elongated lower portion within the chamber constituting a sump to hold a puddle of said fluid and an elongated upper portion above the puddle constituting a vapor space; (b) a vapor transport conduit extended from the chamber above the puddle and to said location; and (c) a fluid inflow means adapted to supply fluid to the puddle and maintain the level of the puddle as fluid therein evaporates when the chamber is heated; (d) wherein said heat absorption chamber is an elongated heat absorption pipe with the lower portion constituting a sump wherein the puddle is formed and wherein said fluid inflow means includes: (e) a fluid supply line extended alongside the heat absorption pipe, and a means to supply fluid thereto at a rate which only partially fills the line and provides a free surface of fluid therein and with the level of the free surface being essentially at the level of the puddle within the heat absorption pipe; (f) a connecting conduit, connecting the fluid supply line and the sump, which is below said fluid levels to provide continuous communication of fluid and to provide a trap for preventing vapor generated in the chamber from flowing through the connecting conduit and into the fluid supply line; (g) the source end of the fluid supply line being above the heat absorption chamber to permit a continuous flow of fluid to be supplied from a high point in the line and to flow past the chamber; and (h) a bypass between the vapor transport conduit and the upper portion of the fluid supply line adjacent to the heat absorption pipe to maintain a balance of pressure in the fluid line and heat absorption pipe to prevent fluctuation of the water level of said puddle within the pipe.

Claim 6

An apparatus for collecting and transporting thermal energy as the vapor of a selected fluid, from a heat source having an intensity sufficient to vaporize the fluid, and to a location where condensation will occur, and comprising: (a) an elongated heat absorption chamber exposed to the heat source and positioned substantially horizontally to provide an elongated lower portion within the chamber constituting a sump to hold a puddle of said fluid and an elongated upper portion above the puddle constituting a vapor space; (b) a vapor transport conduit extended from the chamber above the puddle and to said location; and (c) a fluid inflow means adapted to supply fluid to the puddle and maintain the level of the puddle as fluid therein evaporates when the chamber is heated; (d) wherein said heat absorption chamber is an elongated heat absorption pipe with the lower portion constituting a sump wherein the puddle is formed and wherein said fluid inflow means includes: (e) a fluid supply line extended alongside the heat absorption pipe, and a means to supply fluid thereto at a rate which only partially fills the line and provides a free surface of fluid therein and with the level of the free surface being essentially at the level of the puddle within the heat absorption pipe; (f) a connecting conduit, connecting the fluid supply line and the sump, which is below said fluid levels to provide continuous communication of fluid and to provide a trap for preventing vapor generated in the chamber from flowing through the connecting conduit and into the fluid supply line; (g) the source end of the fluid supply line being above the heat absorption chamber to permit a continuous flow of fluid to be supplied from a high point in the line and to flow past the chamber; and (h) a bypass between the vapor transport conduit and the upper portion of the fluid supply line adjacent to the heat absorption pipe to maintain a balance of pressure in the fluid line and heat absorption pipe to prevent fluctuation of the water level of said puddle within the pipe.

Claim 10

An apparatus for collecting and transporting thermal energy as water vapor, from a heat source having an intensity sufficient to vaporize the water, and to a location where condensation will occur, and comprising: (a) an elongated heat absorption pipe exposed to the heat source, positioned essentially horizontally to provide an elongated sump in the lower portion of the pipe to hold a puddle of water and an elongated vapor chamber in the upper portion of the pipe; (b) a vapor transport conduit extended from the vapor chamber to said location; (c) a water supply means including a supply conduit adjacent to the heat pipe, and a flow control means adapted to keep the supply conduit only partially filled to provide a free surface of water therein; and with the supply conduit being positioned with respect to the heat pipe such that the free surface water level is essentially the same as the puddle water level in said sump; (d) a connecting conduit connecting the supply conduit and sump, which is extended below said water levels to provide continuous communication of water from the supply conduit to the sump; (e) a pressure equalizing line connecting the upper portion of the supply conduit, above the water surface therein, with the vapor space above the puddle, which is formed by the said vapor chamber and the vapor transport conduit adjacent to the heat absorption pipe, whereby to balance the pressures of the supply conduit and the heat absorption pipe and maintain said water levels; and (f) the source end of the fluid supply line being above the heat absorption chamber to permit a continuous flow of fluid to be supplied from a high point in the line and to flow past the chamber.

Claim 11

An apparatus for collecting and transporting thermal energy as water vapor, from a heat source having an intensity sufficient to vaporize the water, and to a location where condensation will occur, and comprising: (a) an elongated heat absorption pipe exposed to the heat source, positioned essentially horizontally to provide an elongated sump in the lower portion of the pipe to hold a puddle of water and an elongated vapor chamber in the upper portion of the pipe; (b) a vapor transport conduit extended from the vapor chamber to said location; (c) a water supply means including a supply conduit adjacent to the heat pipe, and a flow control means adapted to keep the supply conduit only partially filled to provide a free surface of water therein; and with the supply conduit being positioned with respect to the heat pipe such that the free surface water level is essentially the same as the puddle water level in said sump; (d) a connecting conduit connecting the supply conduit and sump, which is extended below said water levels to provide continuous communication of water from the supply conduit to the sump; (e) a pressure equalizing line connecting the upper portion of the supply conduit, above the water surface therein, with the vapor space above the puddle, which is formed by the said vapor chamber and the vapor transport conduit adjacent to the heat absorption pipe, whereby to balance the pressures of the supply conduit and the heat absorption pipe and maintain said water levels; and (f) the source end of the fluid supply line being above the heat absorption chamber to permit a continuous flow of fluid to be supplied from a high point in the line and to flow past the chamber.