Lithium pellets coated with fluorinated oil
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsRonald Lee Bauman, Mark A. Brege, Joel M. Kelsey
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Abstract
Lithium fuel pellets are coated with a fluorinated oil, rather than a fluorinated polymer or telomer. The lithium pellets are coated by placing the pellets inside the lithium reaction vessel and then pouring a fluorinated oil into the reaction vessel. The reaction vessel is rotated in order to evenly coat the lithium pellets. The oil adheres to the lithium pellets and does not settle to the low point of the boiler cavity.
Claims21
A alkali metal-based fuel comprising:
- a plurality of alkali metal pellets;
- and
- a fluorinated oil that adheres to the alkali metal pellets.
A method of making a thermal power source comprising:
- introducing a plurality of alkali metal pellets into a reaction vessel;
- introducing a fluorinated oil into the reaction vessel;
- sealing the reaction vessel;
- and
- agitating the reaction vessel to coat the alkali metal pellets with the fluorinated oil.
A propulsion system comprising:
- a reaction vessel containing a plurality of alkali metal pellets and a fluorinated oil adhering to the plurality of alkali metal pellets,
- the reaction vessel heating a fluid;
- and
- a turbine for converting energy from the fluid into work to drive a propulsor.
The propulsion system of claim 21 wherein the large pellets have a diameter in excess of 8 times the diameter of the small pellets.
The propulsion system of claim 21 wherein the large pellets have a volume in excess of 300 times the volume of the small pellets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.