U-bend tubular heat exchanger - with single tube plate as cooler for uranium hexafluoride in an isotopic gaseous diffusion plant

摘要

Heat exchanger for cooling UF6 in gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment plants, having in known manner a tube bundle and a tube plate welded to the flanges of an exchange shell preferably with the insertion of a flexible element, but in which the tube bundle is of rectangular form both in plan and front section as a result of the special arrangement of the tubes provided to ensure (a) the best expenditure of energy and the best thermal yield, as well as a uniform outlet temperature of the treated fluid at all points of the transverse section, and (b) that the compressor functions with the best yield possible. The tubes are particularly U-tubes. Overcomes problems of differential expansion arising in the conventional type heat exchangers with straight tubes and two tube plates, particularly in the case of the bimetallic tubes required to resist corrosion by UF6 externally and water internally.