High temperature heat pipe research at NASA Lewis Research CenterIn the course of studies of thermionic power plants for space applications, high-temperature refractory metal heat pipes have been designed and built for alkali metal working fluids. Fabrication of tungsten wire-reinforced tantalum pipes by chemical vapor deposition is discussed; the development of reinforced pipes with integral arteries produced by chemical vapor deposition is also mentioned. The feasibility of using lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium or mercury as the working fluid in the heat pipes is also reviewed. Operation of a lithium-filled heat pipe of about 3-kW capacity for several thousand hours is reported.
Document ID
19780051709
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Tower, L. K. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Kaufman, W. B. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, Ohio, United States)