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Fabrication of lithium/C-103 alloy heat pipes for sharp leading edge cooling

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Abstract

In this study, lithium/C-103 alloys heat pipes are proposed for sharp leading edge cooling. Three models of lithium/C-103 alloy heat pipes were fabricated. And their startup properties were tested by radiant heat tests and aerothermal tests. It is found that the startup temperature of lithium heat pipe was about 860 °C. At 1000 °C radiant heat tests, the operating temperature of lithium/C-103 alloy heat pipe is lower than 860 °C. Thus, startup failure occurs. At 1100 °C radiant heat tests and aerothermal tests, the operating temperature of lithium/C-103 alloy heat pipe is higher than 860 °C, and the heat pipe starts up successfully. The startup of lithium/C-103 alloy heat pipe decreases the leading edge temperature effectively, which endows itself good ablation resistance. After radiant heat tests and aerothermal tests, all the heat pipe models are severely oxidized because of the C-103 poor oxidation resistance. Therefore, protective coatings are required for further applications of lithium/C-103 alloy heat pipes.

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Abbreviations

x:

Coordinate measured from center of model along span, mm

l:

Chordwise surface distance measured from nose, mm

L:

Length of lithium/C-103 heat pipe, mm

Tiso :

Isothermal operating temperature, oC

TCs :

Thermal couples

Ps :

Saturated pressure of lithium (torr, 133.3 Pa)

Ts :

Operating temperature of lithium\C-103 heat pipe (K)

MLi :

Charging mass of lithium (g)

Vcap :

Volume of capillary (cm3)

ρ Li :

Density of lithium (g/cm3)

σb :

Strength of C-103 alloy (MPa)

δ:

Elongation of C-103 alloy (%)

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by National Natural Sciences Foundation of China under Grant No.11172284.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. China Academy of Aerospace and Aerodynamics, 17# Yungang West Rd., Beijing, 100074, China

    Bangcheng Ai, Siyuan Chen, Jijun Yu, Qin Lu, Hantao Han & Longfei Hu

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  1. Bangcheng Ai
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  2. Siyuan Chen
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  3. Jijun Yu
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  4. Qin Lu
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  5. Hantao Han
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  6. Longfei Hu
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Correspondence to Longfei Hu.

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Ai, B., Chen, S., Yu, J. et al. Fabrication of lithium/C-103 alloy heat pipes for sharp leading edge cooling. Heat Mass Transfer 54, 1359–1366 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-017-2236-8

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