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Liquid Metals as Efficient High‐Temperature Heat‐Transport Fluids
Author(s) -
Heinzel Annette,
Hering Wolfgang,
Konys Jürgen,
Marocco Luca,
Litfin Karsten,
Müller Georg,
Pacio Julio,
Schroer Carsten,
Stieglitz Robert,
Stoppel Leonid,
Weisenburger Alfons,
Wetzel Thomas
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.201600721
Subject(s) - liquid metal , context (archaeology) , heat transfer fluid , nanotechnology , engineering , materials science , mechanical engineering , metallurgy , geology , paleontology , heat exchanger
Liquid metals appear to be attractive heat‐transport fluids, in particular if looking at their high thermal conductivities and low viscosities. Despite some pioneering technical applications in the past, complex handling, special requirements, safety concerns, and structural degradation of the materials have prevented their widespread application. However, progress in research and development on liquid‐metal science and technology has advanced considerably in the last decade, and this has opened the gate to their broader use in the short term. This requires a more differentiated view on liquid metals, particularly on the specific properties of individual fluids within the context of specific applications. By doing so, many commonly mentioned prejudices vanish or are of minor significance. At the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, a comprehensive research program on liquid‐metal technology has been pursued for more than 50 years, and some of the advances in different applications will be outlined in this article.