Patent ID: 8731139

Claim:
A grazing incidence collector (GIC) cooling assembly operable when heat is applied to the assembly, comprising: a GIC mirror shell having a reflective inner surface and an opposite outer surface; a jacket having an inner surface and interfaced with the GIC mirror shell to define a chamber with leading and trailing ends, with a vapor conduit fluidly connected to the chamber at the trailing end; at least one wicking layer disposed immediately adjacent and in thermal contact with the GIC mirror shell outer surface; a conduit that supports the at least one wicking layer and that defines a vapor conduit; and a condenser system fluidly connected to the conduit and to the at least one wicking layer, with the at least one wicking layer configured to support the capillary flow of a cooling fluid from the condenser system through the conduit and through the chamber, and a counter-flow of cooling-fluid vapor through the chamber, through the vapor conduit and to the condenser system when sufficient heat is applied to the assembly leading end.