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Investigation of bubbles in arterial heat pipesThe behavior of gas occlusions in arterial heat pipes has been studied experimentally and theoretically. Specifically, the gas-liquid system properties, solubility and diffusivity, have been measured from -50 to 100 C for helium and argon in ammonia, Freon-21 (CHC12F), and methanol. Properties values obtained were then used to experimentally test models for gas venting from a heat pipe artery under isothermal conditions (i.e., no-heat flow), although the models, as developed, are also applicable to heat pipes operated at power, with some minor modifications. Preliminary calculations indicated arterial bubbles in a stagnant pipe require from minutes to days to collapse and vent. It has been found experimentally that a gas bubble entrapped within an artery structure has a very long lifetime in many credible situations. This lifetime has an approximately inverse exponential dependence on temperature, and is generally considerably longer for helium than for argon. The models postulated for venting under static conditions were in general quantitative agreement with experimental data. Factors of primary importance in governing bubble stability are artery diameter, artery wall thickness, noncondensible gas partial pressure, and the property group (the Ostwald solubility coefficient multiplied by the gas/liquid diffusivity).
Document ID
19730007231
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Saaski, E. W.
(McDonnell-Douglas Astronautics Co. Richland, WA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 2, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1972
Subject Category
Thermodynamics And Combustion
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-114531
Accession Number
73N15958
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS2-6991
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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