Performance characteristics of gravity-assisted potassium heat pipes

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · J. Spacecr. Rockets; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/3.25821· OSTI ID:7169453

Prenger, F C; Keddy, E S; Sena, J T

Experiments with potassium-stainless steel gravity-assisted heat pipes were performed. Performance limitations due to entrainment or flooding of the liquid return flow are compared with analytical model predictions. The effect of heated pool height was investigated, and problems with surface wetting are discussed. A comparison between entrainment limits for smoothand textured-walled heat pipes was made, and a minimum internal surface texturing depth is suggested.

• Research Organization: Astronautics Technology Center, Madison, WI; Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7169453
• Journal Information: J. Spacecr. Rockets; (United States), Vol. 23; Related Information: AIAA Paper 85-1086
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
HEAT PIPES
PERFORMANCE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FLUID FLOW
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
POTASSIUM
SPACE POWER REACTORS
WORKING FLUIDS
ALKALI METALS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
METALS
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
420200* - Engineering- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques