DEEP BASE HEAT REJECTION METHODS

THE ICBM DEEP BASE PROGRAM WILL EQUIP AN UNDERGROUND FACILITY WITH ALL OF THE LIFE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR HUMAN SURVIVAL DURING THE POST-ATTACK PHASE OF A NUCLEAR WAR. THESE SYSTEMS WILL INCLUDE POWER GENERATION, CO2 REMOVAL ETC., AND THE HEAT GENERATED BY OPERATING THESE SYSTEMS MUST BE DISSIPATED TO THE SURROUNDING ROCK STRATA TO KEEP THE UNDERGROUND HABITAT AT AN COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE. ONE CURRENT HEAT REJECTION METHOD USES HEAT PIPES (100 FEET LONG) IMBEDDED IN THE SURROUNDING ROCK WALLS ATTACHED TO THE HEAT SOURCES BY CONVENTIONAL HEAT EXCHANGERS. THIS PROPOSAL IDENTIFIED A PROGRAM TO INVESTIGATE THE ADVANTAGES OF USING A HEAT PUMP TO ELEVATE THE WASTE HEAT TEMPERATURE BEFORE COUPLING TO THE HEAT REJECTION HEAT PIPE. THE HIGHER TEMPERATURE WASTE HEAT WILL ALLOW THE HEAT PIPE LENGTHS TO BECOME SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO FABRICATE AND INSTALL. ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM CYCLES, MATERIALS, RELIABILITY, AND THE USE OF WASTE HEAT FROM THE POWER GENERATOR TO DRIVE THE HEAT PUMP WILL BE EVALUATED. BASED ON THESE EVALUATIONS, A CYCLE WILL BE CHOSEN AND A PROTOTYPE HEAT PUMP WILL BE DESIGNED TO MEET THE DEEP BASE REQUIREMENTS.