Patent ID: 8739540

Claim:
An apparatus for heat exchange between a heat source and a heat sink, comprising (1) at least one sealed casing having a centerline and comprising an evaporating end at one end of the casing, the evaporating end comprising a heating surface thermally communicating with the heat source, and a condensing end at the other end of the casing, the condensing end comprising a condensing surface thermally communicating with the heat sink, the heat sink structured to reject heat from the apparatus; (2) a working fluid hermetically contained within the casing; (3) a vortex organizer positioned within the casing between the evaporating end and the condensing end, the vortex organizer being rotatable about an axis positioned approximately along the centerline and being spaced apart from the casing and defining an annular condensate space between the vortex organizer and the casing, the annular condensate space structured to provide a path for condensate to flow from the condensing end to the evaporating end, the vortex organizer further comprising a central vapor space that provides a path for vapor to flow from the evaporating end to the condensing end, and (4) a centrifugal pumping disk coupled to the vortex organizer, the pumping disk coupled within the evaporating end of the casing and spaced apart therefrom, the centrifugal pumping disk defining an advection space between the casing and the pumping disk, the advection space communicating with the condensate space, and a radial vortex space between the pumping disk and the heating surface, the radial vortex space communicating with the advection space and the vapor space through an aperture at the center of the pumping disk.