RADIOGENIC HELIUM SEPARATOR Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear, thermonuclear, and space engineering. SUBSTANCE: separator that may be found useful for lithium-cooled high-temperature nuclear power plants primarily designed for space vehicles has case with internal gas cavity formed by capillary structure, capillary seal at lithium coolant inlet, and gas filter at lithium coolant outlet all arranged on inner surface of case. Gas cavity houses lithium coolant expansion device hydraulically connected at least to capillary structure or to capillary seal. Expansion device may be made in the form of large-pore structure its dimensions being chosen so as to hold lithium coolant within reach of gravity field at height not smaller than diameter or any other vertical dimension of separator. Large-pore structure may be made in the form of set of tubes with holes on side surfaces. EFFECT: reduced space requirement for cooling system units at high degree of lithium coolant cleaning from radiogenic helium. 4 cl, 1 dwg