Reactive-Heat-Pipe for Combined Heat Generation and Transport

摘要

A reactive-heat-pipe concept is described which involves the reaction between lithium and sulfur-hexafluoride. For this concept, the lithium is evaporated from the inner surface of the wick and reacts with gaseous sulfur-hexafluoride; the energy of reaction is conducted through the wick causing lithium to evaporate from the outer surface of the wick, the vapor then transfers the energy of reaction by condensing on the heat exchanger surfaces of the load. A small combustor, generating 7.5 kW, operating at condenser temperatures of 1200 K, was designed and tested to demonstrate the operation of the concept. The system was also analyzed in order to examine the design characteristics of the wick, the vapor transport system and the condensation process on the load. The results indicate an optimum mesh size for the wick, and suggest that arterial wicks are desirable for some operating conditions. The greatest thermal resistance found in the study results from the presence of noncondensibles in the system; and several methods of control are suggested to minimize this difficulty.