Approach to ensuring optimal thermal state of radiation protection of space nuclear power systems with high-temperature heat pipes

The article presents an approach to design and calculation of optimal thermal state of radiation protection of space nuclear power systems using high-temperature heat pipes. It is proposed to separate the coolant channel and lithium hydride monolith by a multilayer heat insulation consisting of a carbon shell, boron carbide layer and insulation layer (for example TZMK-10). Heat from boron carbide is removed through heat pipes. Proposed is a computing model accounting for heat release in lithium hydride and heat sink in boron carbide. Due to lack of experimental data, the proposed model has been tested by computer-based simulation methods and demonstrated deviations up to 3%.