Life tests of stainless steel heat pipes containing sodium working fluid were carried out at evaporator surface temperatures of 600 °C, 650 °C and 700 °C for 1, 200 hours in ambient enviroments and during the tests, the change of the thermal resistance of each heat pipe was examined.After finish of each the test, the containers were cutt off and corrosion at the each part of the containers and wicks was examined through X-ray analizer, metallurgical microscope etc.
Heat pipes were fabricated from sus 316 L stainless steel with 50 mesh 2 layers screen wick of same material.The total length of the heat pipe was 1, 000 mm will 25 mm diam-eter and the length of heating zone by Ultra-gold furnace was 265 mm, adiabatic zone was 235 mm and the remainig part was the condensor.
The following became clear after the examination:
1) Cr crystal substance was deposited on the inner surfaces of the containers and the wick surfaces due to elution or precipitation of some Cr from the containers and mesh wicks.
2) Selecting crystal boundary corrosion was observed at the wick and the nozzle on the heating side.
However it is clear that such least amount of corrosion will not affect the life of heat pipes.
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