Patent ID: 7213391
Filing Date: 2007-05-08
Classification: B64D,F28D,H01L,H05K

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for maintaining the temperature of a component below a predetermined maximum temperature, the apparatus comprising a reservoir for a cooling fluid having a boiling point below said temperature, said component and said cooling fluid being in heat transferable juxtaposition to one another such that heat may transfer therebetween, and two heat exchangers associated with said reservoir and operable to effect condensation of vaporised cooling fluid and return same to said reservoir, the heat exchange capacity of at least one of said heat exchangers being variable between maximum and minimum levels, and the combined heat exchange capacity of the heat exchangers when said variable capacity heat exchanger is operating at its minimum heat exchange capacity being sufficient to maintain the temperature of said component below said predetermined maximum temperature, and wherein the apparatus is used in a gas turbine engine in which one of said heat exchangers being adapted to effect heat exchange with ambient air drawn from around the engine and a second one of said heat exchangers is adapted to effect heat exchange with water, and wherein said component is disposed adjacent to said reservoir wherein said reservoir comprises an evaporation region of a heat pipe disposed adjacent to said component, said heat pipe also having opposed end regions comprising elements of respective ones of said heat exchangers.