Heat exchanger using natural or forced circulation - esp. where hot liq. sodium leaving nuclear reactor flows through bundle of finned tubes in casing through which air is fed to collect heat

摘要

A bundle of vertical tubes is located between a bottom inlet manifold and a top exit manifold, and a prim. liq. esp. Na, flows up the tubes. The tube bundle is located in a casing, which has a lower inelt for a sec. fluid, esp. air. The casing has an upper air outlet in a horizontal duct leading to a vertical exit duct for the air. The tubes pref. have external longitudinal fins aiding heat transfer to the air flowing along the external surfaces of the tubes. In an alternative pref. design, the liq. Na flows down the tubes while the air flows upwards. The exchanger requires a smaller space than similar conventional exchanges, and takes advantage of natural convection, although forced circulation of the liq. Na and air can be used.