AMMONIA FILLING SYSTEM

Abstract

A filling system that has at least one heat pipe used for heat transfer, at least one ammonia tube that pure ammonia is able to be stored at room temperature as saturated vapour, at least one delivery line that enables to deliver ammonia from the ammonia tube to the heat pipe and the heat pipe is removably engaged, at least one valve is located on the delivery line and allows ammonia flow to be controlled, at least one detector located on the delivery line and providing seal control, and at least one heater to heat the heat pipe.

Claims

1. A filling system (1) comprising at least one heat pipe (2) used for heat transfer, at least one ammonia tube (3) in which pure ammonia is able to be stored at room temperature as saturated vapour, at least one delivery line (4) which enables to deliver ammonia from the ammonia tube (3) to the heat pipe (2) and to which the heat pipe (2) is removably engaged, at least one valve (5) which is located on the delivery line (4) and allows ammonia flow to be controlled, at least one detector (6) located on the delivery line (4) and providing seal control, and at least one heater (7) to heat the heat pipe (2), the filling system (1) characterized by comprising a base (8), and at least one chamber (10) which has at least two walls (9) extending outwardly from the base (8), wherein when the heat pipe (2) is placed in the chamber (10), the heat pipe (2) remains between the walls (9), and which, when heat is radiated inside the chamber (10) by the heater (7), reflects the heat radiated by the heater (7) through the inner sides of the walls (9) to the heat pipe (2).

2. The filling system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises at least one reflective member (11) which is located in the chamber (10) and is able to reflect heat.

3. The filling system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises a heater (7) to heat by infrared.

4. The filling system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises at least one cooling member (12) which, when the heat pipe (2) is desired to be cooled, is positioned inside the chamber (10) and contacts with the heat pipe (2) to cool the heat pipe (2).

5. The filling system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises a cooling member (12) which is dry ice.

6. The filling system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises at least one support member (13) located on the base (8), on which the heat pipe (2) is placed and which enables the heat pipe (2) to be in the same alignment with the delivery line (4).

7. The filling system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises a thermally insulating support member (13).

8. The filling system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises a reflective member (11) being attached into the chamber (10) in a detachable way.

9. The filling system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises a reflective member (11) which is attached by being adhered into the chamber (10).

10. The filling system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises a connection member (14) having a tube-fitting connection feature which enables to connect the heat pipe (2) and the delivery line (4).

11. The filling system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises a heater (7) which faces the heat pipe (2) when the heat pipe (2) is placed on the base (8) of the chamber (10).

12. The filling system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises at least one heat meter (15) located on the delivery line (4) or the heat pipe (2) and measuring a temperature, and at least one control unit (16) to adjust temperature of the heater (7) depending on the temperature information obtained from the heat meter (15).

13. The filling system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises a U-shaped chamber (10).

14. The filling system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling system (1) comprises a heat pipe (2) utilized at the space crafts and/or aircrafts for heat transfer.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] The filling system realized to achieve the object of the present invention is illustrated in attached drawings, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1is a perspective view of a filling system.

[0029] FIG. 2is a sectional view of the chamber, filling system and cooling member.

[0030] FIG. 3is a top perspective view of the filling system.

[0031] FIG. 4is a side perspective view of the filling system.

[0032] All the parts illustrated in the drawings are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed as follows: [0033] 1. Filling System [0034] 2. Heat Pipe [0035] 3. Ammonia Tube [0036] 4. Delivery Line [0037] 5. Valve [0038] 6. Detector [0039] 7. Heater [0040] 8. Base [0041] 9. Wall [0042] 10. Chamber [0043] 11. Reflective Member [0044] 12. Cooling Member [0045] 13. Support Member [0046] 14. Connection Member [0047] 15. Heat Meter [0048] 16. Control Unit

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0049] The filling system (1) comprises at least one heat pipe (2) used for heat transfer, at least one ammonia tube (3) in which pure ammonia is able to be stored at room temperature as saturated vapour, at least one delivery line (4) which enables to deliver ammonia from the ammonia tube (3) to the heat pipe (2) and to which the heat pipe (2) is removably engaged, at least one valve (5) which is located on the delivery line (4) and allows ammonia flow to be controlled, at least one detector (6) located on the delivery line (4) and providing seal control, and at least one heater (7) to heat the heat pipe (2) (FIG. 1).

[0050] The filling system (1) according to the invention comprises a base (8), and at least one chamber (10) which has at least two walls (9) extending outwardly from the base (8), wherein when the heat pipe (2) is placed in the chamber (10), the heat pipe (2) remains between the walls (9), and which, when heat is radiated inside the chamber (10) by the heater (7), reflects the heat radiated by the heater (7) through the inner sides of the walls (9) to the heat pipe (2) (FIG. 2).

[0051] The filling system (1) of the present invention delivers the ammonia from the ammonia tube (3), in which the ammonia almost in the gas phase is present, to the delivery line (4). The ammonia is able to be controllably delivered from the delivery line (4) to the heat pipe (2) by at least one valve (5). Being delivered almost in the gas phase into the heat pipe (2), the ammonia is liquefied in the heat pipe (2) upon cooling the heat pipe (2), thereby performing operation of filling the heat pipe (2) with ammonia. In the filling system (1), the heat pipe (2) is placed in the chamber so as to extend nearly along the chamber (10). Cooling operation is conducted inside the chamber (10). Before being filled with ammonia, the heat pipe (2) undergoes a sealing assessment by vacuuming. During a sealing assessment conducted via the detector (6), the heat pipe (2) is heated by the heater (7) in order to vacuum almost completely the gas inside the heat pipe (2). Operations of heating and cooling the heat pipe (2) are able to be performed in a more efficient manner thanks to the chamber (10) in which the heat pipe (2) is located.

[0052] In an embodiment of the invention, the filling system (1) comprises at least one reflective member (11) which is located in the chamber (10) and is able to reflect heat. Preferably, the heat radiated by the heater (7) with the help of the reflective member (11) having a bright surface can enable to heat the heat pipe (2) in an efficient manner. This provides to save energy and heating time.

[0053] In another embodiment of the invention, the filling system (1) comprises a heater (7) to heat by infrared. This minimises the heating time.

[0054] In an embodiment of the invention, the filling system (1) comprises at least one cooling member (12) which, when the heat pipe (2) is desired to be cooled, is positioned inside the chamber (10) and contacts with the heat pipe (2) to cool the heat pipe (2). During a filling operation into the heat pipe (2), the heat pipe (2) is cooled via the cooling member (12) for ammonia to be turned into a liquid phase. The cooling member (12) is placed in the chamber (10) so as to cool the heat pipe (2). This provides to cool the heat pipe (2) in an efficient manner.

[0055] In another embodiment of the invention, the cooling member (12) is dry ice. This enables to cool a desired area or full area of the heat pipe (2).

[0056] In an embodiment of the invention, the chamber (10) comprises at least one support member (13) located on the base (8), on which the heat pipe (2) is placed and which enables the heat pipe (2) to be in the same alignment with the delivery line (4). The support member (13) enables to connect the heat pipe (2) and the delivery line (4) in the same alignment. Preferably, the support member (13) is provided on the base (8) in a position-adjustable way or in a fixed and single-piece manner with the base (8).

[0057] In another embodiment of the invention, the support member (13) is thermally insulating. Thanks to this, thermal efficiency transferred to the heat pipe (2) is increased.

[0058] In another embodiment of the invention, the filling system (1) has a reflective member (11) being attached into the chamber (10) in a detachable way. This enables to attach and detach the reflective member (11) to and from the chamber (10) when desired.

[0059] In another embodiment of the invention, the filling system (1) comprises a reflective member (11) which is attached by being adhered into the chamber (10). Thanks to this, the reflective member (11) is fixedly provided in the chamber (10).

[0060] In an embodiment of the invention, the filling system (1) comprises a connection member (14) having a tube-fitting connection feature which enables to connect the heat pipe (2) and the delivery line (4). Preferably, tubular connections are firmly connected to each other via a ferrule tightened by a nut. Thanks to this, sealing is safely provided at the connection points under high pressure values. Therefore, filling heat pipes (2) with ammonia is performed in a more efficient manner.

[0061] In another embodiment of the invention, the filling system (1) comprises a heater (7) which faces the heat pipe (2) when the heat pipe (2) is placed on the base (8) of the chamber (10). This provides energy efficiency for heat transfer to the heat pipe (2).

[0062] In an embodiment of the invention, the filling system (1) comprises at least one heat meter (15) located on the delivery line (4) or the heat pipe (2) and measuring a temperature, and at least one control unit (16) to adjust temperature of the heater (7) depending on the temperature information obtained from the heat meter (15) (FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). This enables to keep temperature of the heat pipe (2) at a desired level.

[0063] In another embodiment of the invention, chamber (10) is U-shaped. Thanks to this, the heat pipe (2) is placed in the chamber in an easy way, and the heater (7) performs more effective heat transfer to the heat pipe (2).

[0064] In another embodiment of the invention, the heat pipe (2) is utilized at the space crafts and/or aircrafts for heat transfer. The filling system (1) resists against high pressure values and is able to fill the heat pipe (2) with ammonia in an effective manner. Therefore, heat transfer is performed in an effective manner at the space crafts and/or aircrafts via the heat pipes (2).

[0065] The filling system according to the present invention enables to fill the heat pipes (2) with ammonia without disturbing degree of purity of the ammonia gas. Moreover, a single system is able to perform both filling and gas emission operations, thereby reducing the manufacturing process and costs. In addition, the system (1) according to the invention is able to fill the heat pipes (2) with ammonia, being in the gas phase at room conditions, in desired amounts without negatively affecting the heat transport capacity of the heat pipes (2).