METHOD FOR TERMINATION OF HEAT PIPES WITH ALKALI-METAL WORKING MEDIUM Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: power engineering, heat engineering, atomic and space equipment, mainly in making and experimental machining of liquid metal heat pipes, including those designed for use in refrigerators-radiators of space power plants. SUBSTANCE: the method consists in cutting of the heat pipe by the electroerosion method and analysis of the condition of the heat pipe inner structure in a liquid transparent medium not interacting with alkali metal - heat pipe working medium, a substance whose vapors possess spark-suppression properties is selected as the liquid transparent medium. Besides, transformer oil is selected as a substance whose vapors possess spark-suppression properties. EFFECT: enhanced fire safety of the method for termination of heat pipes at a high self-descriptiveness of termination due to possibility of visual observation of the inner condition of the heat pipe at a presence of working medium in the form of alkali metal in it. 2 cl