The elimination or control of material problems in water heat pipes. Quarterly progress report, No. 3, 1 Jul--30 Sep 1974

Technical Report · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1974

OSTI ID:7227912

Pittinato, G F

This study is designed to determine the most effective combination of materials, fabrication methods, and operating procedures for a water heat pipe that will provide satisfactory performance when used as a local absorption, solar-thermal energy collector. Fourteen heat pipes measuring 76 cm long, 2 each from 316 SS, 347 SS, 430 SS, Monel 400, Inconel 600, CDA 715, and Incoloy 800, were instrumented with thermocouples. The pipes were temperature cycled once a day between 300C and 110C. All the candidate materials generated varying amounts of non-condensable gases (hydrogen) almost immediately after being put into operation. However, within a few days, all but the 430 SS showed evidence of a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas present. It is theorized that the hydrogen diffuses through the heat pipe wall. The conclusions drawn in previous studies using larger diameter thicker walled pipes may be in error if a thin walled fill and vent tube was used and positioned at the condenser end of the pipe.

• Research Organization: McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co., Huntington Beach, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7227912
• Report Number(s): PB-259 352; MDC-G-5481-B; NSF/RANN/SE/GI-41310/PR/74/3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101 -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
42 ENGINEERING
420200* -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
ALLOYS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
COPPER ALLOYS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
FABRICATION
FLUIDS
HEAT PIPES
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
HYDROGEN
INCOLOY 800
INCOLOY ALLOYS
INCONEL 600
INCONEL ALLOYS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MATERIALS
MONEL
NICKEL ALLOYS
NICKEL BASE ALLOYS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
NONMETALS
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR ENERGY
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS