公开(公告)号：US12007171B1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-11

申请号：US17216398

申请日：2021-03-29

Applicant: Triad National Security, LLC

Inventor： Robert Stowers Reid ,  Morgan T. Biel ,  Lindsey M. Gaspar ,  Kirk Weisbrod ,  Katrina M. Sweetland ,  Robert A. Zimmerman

IPC: F28D15/04 ,  B23K31/02 ,  B23P15/26

CPC classification number: F28D15/046 ,  B23K31/027 ,  B23P15/26 ,  B23P2700/09 ,  F28F2275/061

Abstract: A method for forming an annular heat pipe wick in a controlled atmosphere includes wrapping a plurality of layers of a fine mesh screen around a mandrel to form a wick. The method also includes inserting the mandrel and the wick into a sheath, and compressing the wick between the sheath and the mandrel to form an assembly. The compressing of the wick comprises applying pressure to an exterior of the mandrel and the sheath. The method further includes diffusion bonding the assembly at a temperature sufficiently high achieving self-diffusion of the plurality of layers of the fine mesh screen used to form the wick to themselves. The method also includes cooling the diffusion bonded assembly to room temperature, and etching the mandrel and sheath from the diffusion bonded assembly, leaving the wick as a porous tube.

公开(公告)号：US11996204B1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-28

申请号：US16822486

申请日：2020-03-18

Applicant: Triad National Security, LLC

Inventor： Robert S. Reid ,  Felicity A. Kubic ,  Katrina M. Sweetland

IPC: G21C15/257 ,  G21C15/18 ,  F28D15/02

CPC classification number: G21C15/257 ,  G21C15/182 ,  F28D15/0275

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reactor core with one or more heat pipes passing through in an x-direction, one or more heat pipes passing through in a y-direction, and one or more heat pipes passing through in a z-direction. The one or more heat pipes passing through in the z-direction are pumped heat pipes.