Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Novatome

Noel Lions

Alain Brachet

Joel Guidez

Jacques A Figuet

Rene M Traiteur

Thierry Zuber

Marie-Therese Cabrillat

The invention relates to a secondary heat transfer circuit for a liquid metal-cooled nuclear reactor, as well as to a steam generator which can be used in such a circuit. According to the invention, a downstream buffer tank and an upstream buffer tank are arranged within the steam generator. The upstream buffer tank is annular and surrounds and communicates with an area of the generator by which the liquid metal flows downwards between the exchange zone and the discharge tube. The pressure of the neutral gas pocket in the downstream buffer tank is higher than that of the pocket of the upstream buffer tank. Application to fast neutron nuclear reactors.

Secondary heat transfer circuit for a nuclear reactor cooled by a liquid

The invention relates to a secondary heat transfer circuit for a liquid metal nuclear reactor. Each loop of the main circuit has in order a steam generator, a pump, and at least one heat exchanger positioned in the reactor vessel. A downstream buffer tank is located in the pipe connecting the generator to the pump, whilst the upstream buffer tank can be positioned either in the generator, or outside the latter. Application to the generation of electric power by means of a fast neutron reactor.

Secondary heat transfer circuit for a nuclear reactor

The invention relates to a fast neutron nuclear reactor of the integrated type comprising a cylindrical inner vessel. The inner vessel comprises two concentric ferrules and the connection between the hot collector defined within this vessel and the inlet port of the exchangers is brought about by a hot structure forming a heat baffle and supported by the inner ferrule and by a cold structure surrounding the hot structure, supported by the outer ferrule and sealingly connected to the exchanger. Application to the generation of electric power in nuclear power stations.

Fast neutron nuclear reactor

Water is circulated within tube bundles located in spaced relation within the generator casing and converted to steam by exchange of heat with a liquid metal which is fed into the casing through a central axial tube. The liquid metal is distributed within adjacent compartments which are formed by radial partitions extending from the central tube and each accommodate at least one tube bundle. A small gap is formed between the radial partitions and the casing so as to provide a communication between adjacent compartments and to equalize the level of liquid metal.

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Manosque, France

Noel Lions