SPACE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY STUDIES RUBIDIUM EVALUATION PROGRAM. Report No. 9. Quarterly Technical Report, August 1 through October 31, 1960

Technical Report · Tue Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1961

OSTI ID:4079682

The program was proposed (1) to provide data on the high-temperature corrosion of suitable containment materials by liquid and gaseous rubidium through static capsule and dynamic corrosion loop tests, and (2) to determine the latent heat of vaporization, specific heat, vapor pressure at various temperatures, and density of liquid rubidium from 1000 to 1800 deg F. The design, construction, and check-out of equipment was accomplished. A 316 stainless-steel corrosion capsule has operated at 1550 deg F for 50 hr and at 1800 deg F for 50 hr. The test results indicate that 316 stainless steel is an adequate containment material for short time exposures at temperatures approaching 1800 deg F and low stress levels. The loop system design is described and involves three complete loop systems: (1) rubidium loop with heater, cooler, pump, flow, and pressure control; (2) argon loop to cool the rubidium loop and to provide protection from oxidation for the loop components; and (3) a water loop to cool the argon loop. The loop control system is in the final stages of assembly. A description is given of the boiling apparatus and its operation for determining vapor pressures and the latent heat of vaporization. A method is discussed for measuring the rubidium level in the condensate reservoir using a gamma source and detector. An error analysis is given for the operation of the boiling apparatus for boiling heat input, volume of condensate reservoir, condensate reservoir fill time, and density of rubidium. The density measurement methods and apparatus are described. A method is given for determining the heat capacity of the liquid rubidium as a function of temperature in the corrosion test loop. (B.O.G.)

• Research Organization: Aerojet-General Nucleonics, San Ramon, Calif.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-011568
• OSTI ID: 4079682
• Report Number(s): AGN-8023
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ARGON
BOILING
CAPSULES
CONDENSERS
CONTROL
COOLING
CORROSION
CORROSION PROTECTION
DENSITY
DETECTION
ERRORS
EVAPORATION
EVAPORATION HEAT
FABRICATION
FLUID FLOW
GAMMA DETECTION
GAMMA SOURCES
GAS FLOW
GASES
HIGH TEMPERATURE
INERT GASES
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LIQUID METALS
LIQUIDS
MACHINE PARTS
MATERIALS TESTING
MEASURED VALUES
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
MOTION
PLANNING
PRESSURE
PRESSURE VESSELS
PUMPS
RUBIDIUM
SPACE FLIGHT
SPECIFIC HEAT
STAINLESS STEEL-316
STAINLESS STEELS
STORAGE
STRESSES
TEMPERATURE
THERMODYNAMICS
TUBES
VAPORS
VESSELS
VOLUME
WATER