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Reactivity Studies of Inconel 625 with Sodium, and Lunar Regolith StimulantIn the event of the need for nuclear power in exploration, high flux heat pipes will be needed for heat transfer from space nuclear reactors to various energy conversion devices, and to safely dissipate excess heat. Successful habitation will necessitate continuous operation of alkali metal filled heat pipes for 10 or-more years in a hostile environment with little maintenance. They must be chemical and creep resistant in the high vacuum of space (lunar), and they must operate reliably in low gravity conditions with intermittent high radiation fluxes. One candidate material for the heat pipe shell, namely Inconel 625, has been tested to determine its compatibility with liquid sodium. Any reactivity could manifest itself as a problem over the long time periods anticipated. In addition, possible reactions with the lunar regolith will take place, as will evaporation of selected elements at the external surfaces of the heat pipes, and so there is a need for extensive long-term testing under simulated lunar conditions.
Document ID
20080015651
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Gillies, Donald
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Salvail, Pat
(Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Reid, Bob
(Los Alamos National Lab. NM, United States)
Colebaugh, James
(Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Easterling, Greg
(Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
February 10, 2008
Subject Category
Energy Production And Conversion
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Technology and Applications International Forum, STAIF-2008
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Country: United States
Start Date: February 10, 2008
End Date: February 14, 2008
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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