Reliability of low-cost liquid metal heat pipes

Ewell, G.; Basiulis, A.; Lamp, Thomas R.

doi:10.2514/6.1978-437

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…It also has been found that stainless steel felt wicks can operate in liquid metal environments for long periods at elevated temperatures. Ewell et al [1978] found only a small amount of grain boundary relief in a stainless steel felt wick after 2300 hours of operation in sodium at 700°C. After 10,000 hours of operation, Ewell et al reported increased grain boundary relief and fracturing where some of the fibers were bent.…”

Section: Heat-pipe Solarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass transport, corrosion, plugging, and their reduction in solar dish/Stirling heat pipe receivers

Adkins

Andraka²,

Bradshaw³

et al.

IECEC 96. Proceedings of the 31st Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference

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O S T % ABSTRACTSolar dishlstirling systems using sodium heat pipe receivers are being developed by industry and government laboratories here and abroad. The unique demands of this application lead to heat pipe wicks with very large surface areas and complex threedimensional flow patterns. These characteristics can enhance the mass transport and concentration of constituents of the wick material, resulting in wick corrosion and plugging. As the test times for heat pipe receivers lengthen, we are beginning to see these effects both indirectly, as they &ect performance, and directly, in post-test examinations. We are also beginning to develop corrective measures. In this paper, we report on ow test experiences, our post-test examinations, and on our initial effort to ameliorate various problems. INTRODUCTIONThrough joint-venture programs with several industrial partners, the Department of Energy is sponsoring programs to commercialize solar-toelectric power generating systems that use parabolic mirror solar concentrators coupled with a Stirling engine and generator. One of the major challenges of this program is to develop a solar receiver system to transfer energy from the focus of the concentrator to the working fluid of the engine. Flux levels near the focus can be on the order of 100 W/cm2 and, depending on the quality of the concentrator, the flux distribution on the receiver can be very non-uniform. In earlier solar/Stirling systems, tubes transporting the engine's working fluid were directly heated with concentrated solar energy. This practice created large thermal gradients on the tubes and led to concerns about the life expectancy of directreceiver systems. The uneven flux profiles on the receiver also

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Section: Heat-pipe Solarmentioning

confidence: 99%