Abstract
This experiment is concerned with the problem of containing liquid helium in space. On earth, one maintains cryogenic equipment at 4°K by immersing it in liquid helium and utilizing the latent heat of the liquid to dissipate any heat input. Gravitational phase separation allows the boil-off gas to be withdrawn at the top of the dewar. Two major problems arise in a zero-g environment. First, we no longer may have an open gas-evacuation line because liquid will also be withdrawn. Second, there may not always be enough liquid in contact with the equipment to dissipate the entire heat input; consequently, the temperature of the system will rise.
Work supported in part by NASA Grant No. NGR-05-020-019.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
J. Wilks, The Properties of Liquid and Solid Helium, Clarendon Press, Oxford (1967), p. 36; also
J. Donnelly, Experimental Superfluidity, University of Chicago Press, Chicago (1967), p. 32.
J. Wilks, op. cit., p. 388; or K. R. Atkins, Liquid Helium, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1959), p. 159.
J. Wilks, op. cit., p. 56.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1971 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Selzer, P.M., Fairbank, W.M., Everitt, C.W.F. (1971). A Superfluid Plug for Space. In: Timmerhaus, K.D. (eds) Advances in Cryogenic Engineering. Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, vol 16. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0244-6_33
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0244-6_33
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-0246-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-0244-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive