Development and test of a space-reactor-core heat pipe

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1983-1530· OSTI ID:6365249

Merrigan, M A; Runyan, J E; Martinez, H E; Keddy, E S

A heat pipe designed to meet the heat transfer requirements of a 100-kW/sub e/ space nuclear power system has been developed and tested. General design requirements for the device included an operating temperature of 1500/sup 0/K with an evaporator radial flux density of 100 w/cm/sup 2/. The total heat-pipe length of 2 m comprised an evaporator length of 0.3 m, a 1.2-m adiabatic section, and a condenser length of 0.5 m. A four-artery design employing screen arteries and distribution wicks was used with lithium serving as the working fluid. Molybdenum alloys were used for the screen materials and tube shell. Hafnium and zirconium gettering materials were used in connection with a pre-purified distilled lithium charge to ensure internal chemical compatibility. After initial performance verification, the 14.1-mm i.d. heat pipe was operated at 15 kW throughput at 1500/sup 0/K for 100 hours. No performance degradation was observed during the test.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6365249
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-83-1168; CONF-830629-1; ON: DE83011143
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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