Transient heat pipe investigations for space power systems

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1986-1273· OSTI ID:5041804

Merrigan, M A; Keddy, E S; Sena, J T

A 4-meter long, high temperature, high power, molybdenum-lithium heat pipe has been fabricated and tested in transient and steady state operation at temperatures to 1500 K. Maximum power throughput during the tests was approximately 37 kW/cm/sup 2/ for the 1.4 cm diameter vapor space of the annular wick heat pipe. The evaporator flux density for the tests was 150.0 W/cm/sup 2/ over a length of 40 cm. Condenser length was approximately 3.0 m with radiant heat rejection from the condenser to a coaxial, water cooled radiation calorimeter. A variable radiation shield, controllable from the outside of the vacuum enclosure, was used to vary the load on the heat pipe during the tests. 1 ref., 9 figs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5041804
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-85-3341; CONF-8509153-4; ON: DE86000813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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