Investigation of SPS Tungsten-Lithium Heat Pipe for Primary Heat Exchanger Applications

Abstract

Abstract The demand to reduce carbon emissions and establish sustainable sources of clean energy has increased the interest infusion reactors. Fusion reactors are devices that generate enormous amounts of energy. The result of the thermal energy needs to be transported to improve the reliability and safety of the reactor. One of the potential solutions is a heat pipe. Heat pipes are devices that can efficiently transport heat as well as cool the core of the reactor. Also, it helps for power generation by integrating it with power cycles. In this research, an alkali metal heat pipe, and a Super-critical Carbon Dioxide (sCO2) heat exchanger for a closed Brayton cycle is proposed. It starts from the selection of material and alkali metal for higher temperature application is chosen as tungsten and lithium. Spark Plasma Sintering is used to manufacture tungsten lithium heat pipe samples. The design of the heat pipe designated to transport 20–25 KW of energy. in an array configuration it is capable to transport 1–2 MW of energy. With this design analysis, the interface compactness emerges as a great advantage, allowing it to be used in fusion reactors, waste heat recovery for aircraft engines, gas turbines, and thermal management in hypersonic aircraft.