Nuclear reactor having double tube helical coil heat exchanger
A method for removing decay heat in a nuclear power plant is described comprising a nuclear reactor having a circulating liquid metal cooling system, which cooling system includes at least one heat exchanger comprising a vessel having a closed lower end. The cylindrical vessel is closed at its upper end by a closure plate having feedwater inlet nozzles and steam outlet nozzles. Each double tube helical coil is comprised of 1-20 double tube bundles. The inner rubes are attached at one end to a feedwater inlet and attached at the other end to a steam outlet nozzle. The outer tubes are in open communication at both ends with the disengaging chamber. The annular gap are at least partially filled with liquid metal. Each double tube portion extends from its end closest to the feedwater inlet connection of its inner tube downwardly to the bottom of the upper plenum. The upper plenum has at least one liquid metal inlet in open communication with the outside of the cylindrical vessel. The lower plenum has at least one liquid metal outlet in open communication with the outside of the cylindrical vessel. The double tube helical coil is enclosed by a cylindrical shroud extending the length of the upper plenum. The portion of the upper plenum outside the shroud is in communication with the plenum enclosed by the shroud by means of liquid metal distributor openings in the shroud, which liquid metal distributor openings are above the helix-shaped portion of the double tube helical coil.
- Assignee:
- Stone and Webster Engineering Corp., Boston, MA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4737337
- OSTI ID:
- 5012382
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 27 Feb 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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