Abstract: A sleeved boiler-reactor provides enhanced nucleate boiling and reduced risk of film-boiling within boiling tubes of the boiler-reactor, in the same manner as prior boiler-reactors of seam-welded construction, without the high fabrication cost incident with seam-welding, through the use of a closely wound helical shaped boiling tube structure constrained by lugs against a sleeve portion of the casing of the boiler-reactor.

Abstract: An ullage compensator is disclosed for a stored chemical energy power propulsion system. With the invention, at least one movable wall (16) is provided within a reactor having a chamber (10) which is movable between a first position at which the chamber has a maximum reaction volume to a second position at which the reaction chamber has a minimum volume. A force is applied to the movable wall by a bellows to cause the wall to project into the chamber in response to the force when a reaction is occurring within the chamber. The invention eliminates damage to the interior surface of the chamber and the inlet port(s) for introducing an oxidant into the chamber which sustains the reaction caused by direct contact with a gaseous oxidant which causes the reaction.

Abstract: A heat exchanger 16 for a thermal power source includes a chamber 18 provided with an igniter 28 and a reactant inlet 30. Within the chamber 18 is a mass of lithium pellets 10 and 12, each provided with a coating 14.

Abstract: Encapsulated lithium including a shot shaped and sized body (10) of lithium metal encapsulated in a thin layer (12) of a predominantly fluorine substituted polyolefin based polymeric material, a method of making the same and a power plant utilizing the encapsulated lithium as fuel (FIG. 3).

Abstract: Encapsulated lithium including a shot shaped and sized body of lithium metal encapsulated in a thin layer of a predominantly fluorine substituted polyolefin based polymeric material, a method of making the same and a power plant utilizing the encapsulated lithium as fuel.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (16) for a thermal power source includes a chamber provided with an igniter and a reactant inlet. Within the chamber is a mass of lithium pellets, each provided with a coating.

Abstract: Encapsulated lithium including a shot shaped and sized body (10) of lithium metal encapsulated in a thin layer (12) of a predominantly fluorine substituted polyolefin based polymeric material, a method of making the same and a power plant utilizing the encapsulated lithium as fuel (FIG. 3).