Development and Experimental Research on the Electromagnetic Induction Lithium Coolant Transfer Pump of a High-Power Space-Based NPP High-Temperature Cooling System

Abstract

In the project of a modular submegawatt space-based thermionic NPP for the interorbital tug Gerkules, niobium alloy is used as the main structural material and isotopically pure lithium-7 is used as a coolant. To transfer lithium coolant, a series of electromagnetic induction pumps (EMP) have been designed, manufactured, and tested. The main requirement for EMPs is to ensure lithium transfer at high operating temperatures up to 900°C. This required high-temperature structural, magnetic, conductive, and electrical insulating materials. The design and technological features of the developed EMP are given. The tests were carried out in a pressure chamber as part of the lithium-niobium circuit simulating the NPP cooling system unit. The dependences of the EMP head-flow characteristics on the current strength and frequency, the temperature of transferred lithium, and other parameters are presented. The scatter of the same EMPs does not exceed 6%.