Patent ID: 7900438

Claim:
A heat transfer system for a turbine engine including an annular casing with an array of generally radially-extending strut members disposed therein, the heat transfer system comprising: at least one primary heat pipe having an elongated outer wall and closed ends defining a sealed first cavity containing a first fluid, the primary heat pipe disposed at least partially inside a selected one of the strut members; and at least one secondary heat pipe having an elongated outer wall and closed ends defining a second cavity that is sealed independently of the first cavity and that contains a second fluid, the secondary heat pipe disposed outside the annular casing and thermally coupled to the at least one primary heat pipe and to a heat source, such that heat from the heat source can be transferred through the secondary heat pipe to the primary heat pipe and to the selected strut member without any of the first fluid being transferred from the primary heat pipe and without any of the second fluid being transferred from the secondary heat pipe.