Patent ID: 7661464

Claim:
An evaporator comprising: a cylindrical barrier wall defining a central axial opening and an outer cylindrical surface, the cylindrical barrier wall having a length, a first axial end, a second axial end and being closed from fluid flow at both the first axial end and the second axial end; a cylindrical wick disposed within the central axial opening, defining a central axial channel and extending substantially along the entire length of the cylindrical barrier wall from the first axial end to the second axial end; a liquid inlet port extending through the cylindrical barrier wall and through a passage in the cylindrical wick to a location proximate to an inner surface of the cylindrical wick defining the central axial channel and directly communicating with the central axial channel; a liquid outlet port extending through the cylindrical barrier wall and through a passage in the cylindrical wick to a location proximate to an inner surface of the cylindrical wick defining the central axial channel and directly communicating with the central axial channel; and a vapor port extending through the cylindrical barrier wall to a location proximate to an outer surface of the cylindrical wick.