Patent ID: 7931072

Claim:
An evaporator comprising: an outer fluid enclosure; a liquid inlet port coupled through the outer fluid enclosure; a liquid-distribution structure joined to the outer fluid enclosure to form a fluidly sealed hermetic chamber, the liquid-distribution structure including a vapor barrier wall having an outer heat-receiving surface and being configured to distribute liquid over an inner surface of the vapor barrier wall; a wick positioned inside the fluidly sealed hermetic chamber and being coupled to the liquid inlet port; at least one vapor removal channel formed in the wick and being in fluid communication with the liquid-distribution structure, and being near the outer heat-receiving surface of the vapor barrier wall; and a vapor header channel formed in the wick and being transverse to the at least one vapor removal channel, the at least one vapor removal channel extending from and being in communication with the vapor header channel; wherein a thermal conductance of the liquid-distribution structure is higher than a thermal conductance of the wick.