Open AccessCapillary-Pumped Passive Reactor Concept for Space Nuclear Power
Author(s) -
Thomas F. Lin,
Thomas G. Hughes,
Christopher Miller
Publication year - 2008
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/929304
Subject(s) - capillary action , nuclear engineering , surface tension , mechanics , natural convection , nuclear reactor , convection , flow (mathematics) , space (punctuation) , lithium (medication) , materials science , physics , thermodynamics , engineering , computer science , medicine , endocrinology , operating system
To develop the passively-cooled space reactor concept using the capillary-induced lithium flow, since molten lithium possesses a very favorable surface tension characteristic. In space where the gravitational field is minimal, the gravity-assisted natural convection cooling is not effective nor an option for reactor heat removal, the capillary induced cooling becomes an attractive means of providing reactor cooling