Patent ID: 7832462

Claim:
A device, comprising: a first wick evaporator, including: a first membrane having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a plurality of pores with upper pore ends at the upper surface and with lower pore ends at the lower surface; a plurality of first thermally-conductive supports, each of the first thermally-conductive supports having an upper support end spaced apart along a longitudinal axis from a lower support end, the upper support ends being in contact with the first membrane; each of the first thermally-conductive supports having a lateral wall extending along the longitudinal axis between the upper and lower support ends; and a plurality of additional pores, each additional pore forming a passageway through a first thermally-conductive support communicating between the upper support end and the lateral wall; wherein the first wick evaporator is configured to conduct thermal energy through the first thermally-conductive supports from the lower support ends to the first membrane.