Patent ID: 9221093
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: B21D,F22B,F28D,F28F,G21C,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a heat exchanger, the method comprising: defining an inlet for liquid sodium primary coolant, the inlet for receiving the liquid sodium primary coolant from a pool of liquid sodium proximate a plurality of fission modules of a reactor core and directing the liquid sodium primary coolant to a heat exchanger body; defining an outlet for the liquid sodium primary coolant, the outlet for directing the liquid sodium primary coolant from the heat exchanger body to the pool of liquid sodium; defining in the heat exchanger body a plenum chamber for flow of the primary coolant, defining the plenum chamber including defining an upper portion of the plenum chamber to have a volume and a cross-sectional area less than a volume and cross-sectional area of a lower portion of the plenum chamber, the inlet for the liquid sodium primary coolant being located in the upper portion, the outlet for the liquid sodium primary coolant being located in the lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion defining the entire volume of the heat exchanger body; defining an inlet for secondary coolant in a heat transfer member, the inlet for the secondary coolant being located in the upper portion of the heat exchanger body; defining an outlet for secondary coolant in the heat transfer member, the outlet for the secondary coolant being located in the lower portion of the heat exchanger body; defining a flow channel for secondary coolant through the heat transfer member, the flow channel connecting the inlet for secondary coolant to the outlet for secondary coolant; disposing the heat transfer member in the heat exchanger body sealingly from primary coolant; and affixing an outer surface defining the upper and lower portions of the heat exchanger body to a portion of an interior surface of a vessel wall of a reactor vessel.