Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Creusot-loire

Novatome

Andre Baudoin

Rene M Traiteur

According to the invention, the central body (10) of the steam generator filled with liquid sodium in its upper and middle part comprises in its lower part, on one hand, a crowned end wall (23) under which an inert gas is injected for forming a pocket (24) which contains a small volume of gas and defines a gas-liquid separation surface (25) for the reflection and the attenuation of a pressure wave in the event of a sodium-water reaction, and, on the other hand, a spider element (11) which connects the lower end of the central body (10) to an end element (16) provided with a frustoconical portion (17) which extends with an annular clearance into the outlet pipe (5) for the liquid sodium which has travelled through the tube bundle (7). Application in particular to nuclear power stations.

Steam generators having a central body of the sodium-water type

Steam generator of the sodium-water type comprising a primary circuit constituted by an elongated vessel filled with liquid sodium, an inlet zone of the elongated vessel into which the liquid sodium is introduced, an outlet zone of the elongated vessel from which the liquid sodium is removed, and a secondary circuit constituted by a plurality of water circulation tubes extending to the inside of the elongated vessel. Inside the elongated vessel is arranged a tank open only downwards, immersed in the sodium contained in the vessel, and at least partly filled with an inert gas, so as to constitute in the vessel, at the level of the outlet zone of the sodium, an expansion tank for limiting the propagation of a pressure wave resulting from chemical reaction between the sodium and the water. The generator is particularly useful in nuclear power stations.

Growing community of inventors

Marly le roi, France

Andre Baudoin