LITHIUM-NIOBIUM COOLING SYSTEM Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: power engineering; cooling systems for power plants, mainly space and nuclear power plants. SUBSTANCE: proposed cooling system includes pipe lines, pump and other items of equipment made from niobium or niobium alloy; they are filled with lithium heat-transfer agent. Some pipe lines are located inside heat source. Non-hermetic shield is mounted on the outside at spaced relation to pipe lines, pump and equipment located beyond heat source. Said shield is made from material possessing getter properties relative to gaseous oxygen. Shield may be made from at least one layer of niobium or niobium alloy foil. Proposed system ensures protracted operation both in space and in conducting ground tests in vacuum chamber due to protection of outer surface of niobium loop against penetration of oxygen at working temperatures. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency and reliability. 2 cl, 2 dwg