Novatome

Jean-Louis Pierrey

Bernard Cornu

Michel Thevenin

Heat exchanger comprising a bundle (35) with straight vertical tubes, whose inner wall serves as the entry duct (46) for the fluid to be heated. This inner wall consists of a first shell (45) having a vertical axis, welded to the lower tube plate (39), a second shell (46) coaxial with the first and similarly fixed to the tube plate (39) and a third shell (47) fixed to the upper tube plate (40) and extended downwards between the two plates (39 and 40). The three shells are joined to the upper part of the exchanger so as to form two chambers (54 and 55) filled with inert gas. The inner shell (45) is joined to an entry duct (48) for the fluid to be heated. The invention applies, in particular, to intermediate heat exchangers of fast neutron nuclear reactors of an integrated type.

Heat exchanger having a bundle of straight tubes

A device for providing protection against heat and radiation for an intermediate heat exchanger immersed in the vessel of a nuclear reactor. In its upper part, the exchanger has an inner sleeve (8a) inside which a liquid metal circulates, and an outer sleeve (8b), these sleeves being joined by a Y-shaped connector (25). A peripheral space is provided around the outer sleeve (8b), inside the passage (3) through the slab (2) covering the reactor vessel. The protection device comprises a sleeve (27) fixed under the flange (18) and carrying, in its lower part, a solid piece (30) occupying the greater part of the peripheral space around the sleeve (8b). In its upper part, under the flange (18), the sleeve (27) carries a heat insulation means (32) of annular shape. The Y-shaped connector (25) is located in the central part of the sleeve (27), between the solid piece (30) and the heat insulation means (32). The invention is applicable, in particular, to fast neutron nuclear reactors cooled by liquid sodium.

Device for providing protection against heat and radiation for an

The apparatus comprises an annular cup (5) solid with the component (1) and surrounding its outer wall, a frusto-conical support surface (9) having as axis the vertical axis (2) of the component (1) fixed at the perimeter of its large base to the passage (4) into which the component (1) passes and a closure element (14) with rotational symmetry. The closure element (14) has an upper part (15) which rests on the support surface (9) so as to totally close the annular space (18) at the top and a part directed downwards constituted by a sleeve whose lower part goes into the cup (5). The cup (5) fills up with liquid metal (17) which condenses when the reactor is operating, which ensures sealing between the sleeve (4) and the cup (5). The invention is particularly applicable to fast neutron nuclear reactors cooled by liquid sodium.

Growing community of inventors

Bourg la Reine, France

Jean-Louis Pierrey