US 11,996,204 B1
Multi-directional heat pipes
Robert S. Reid, Los Alamos, NM (US); Felicity A. Kubic, Los Alamos, NM (US); and Katrina M. Sweetland, Los Alamos, NM (US)
Assigned to TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC, Los Alamos, NM (US)
Filed by Triad National Security, LLC, Los Alamos, NM (US)
Filed on Mar. 18, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/822,486.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/823,756, filed on Mar. 26, 2019.
Int. Cl. G21C 15/257 (2006.01); G21C 15/18 (2006.01); F28D 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 15/257 (2013.01) [G21C 15/182 (2013.01); F28D 15/0275 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a reactor core, wherein the reactor core comprises:
one or more first heat pipes, and
one or more second heat pipes,
wherein the one or more first heat pipes and the one or more second heat pipes each comprise an evaporator section disposed within the reactor core,
wherein the one or more first heat pipes pass through a first external face of the reactor core and the one or more second heat pipes pass through a second external face of the reactor core,
wherein the one or more first heat pipes passing through the first external face and the one or more second heat pipes passing through the second external face of the reactor core are angled with respect to each other and to a gravity vector, and
wherein the one or more first heat pipes and the one or more second heat pipes are gravity assist heat pipes.