LIQUID-METAL COOLING SYSTEM Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: space and power engineering; cooling systems for spacecraft power plants. SUBSTANCE: liquid-metal cooling system has closed liquid-metal circulating loop and starting system for coolant melting that dispenses with non-freezing coolant circulating loop. Starting system has at least one gas-filled starting heat pump whose evaporation zone is located in reactor core and condensation zone is routed along main pipelines, heat-transfer devices of radiating cooler, pump, and valves. At least main pipelines and condensation zone of starting heat pipe are enclosed in common heat insulation. Alkali metal such as sodium, potassium, lithium is used as working medium of heat pipe and neutral gas such as argon, helium, or their mixture, or mixture of these gases with other gases is used as gas medium. EFFECT: simplified design of liquid-metal cooling system. 3 cl, 2 dwg