2 ms·
Yes, but they use water. (Also reduced pressure means reduced density, which should in theory make heat transfer less efficient... except when phase changes are
by BlueTemplar 4y ago
Yes, but they use water. (Also reduced pressure means reduced density, which should in theory make heat transfer less efficient... except when phase changes are involved !)
That reactor is a radically different design, operating at a much lower temperature, where sodium doesn't evaporate.
- jonstewart 4y agoBut the whole point of a heat pipe is that phase changes -are- involved! So, water’s fine for temperatures in a “normal” range, like a CPU, but perhaps not great for higher temperature ranges. And then, this is a nuclear reactor. Whatever’s in the heat pipe in a reactor will be bombarded with neutrons. Water is a neutron moderator, so you wind up with heavy water in the heat pipes and not-very-nice fission products in the reactor due to slower neutrons.
- BlueTemplar 4y agoI never said they should use water, I'm just wondering what kinds of stresses (including chemical ones ?) are involved here...