Patent Number: 040452859
Section: claims

1. A plant for the production of hydrogen through utilization of heat energy derived from a gas-cooled, high-temperature nuclear reactor, comprising: a. a thick-walled vessel;  b. a high temperature reactor contained in a centrally oriented cavity with said vessel;  c. a plurality of process gas cracking reactors contained within the wall of said vessel;  d. a plurality of steam generators equal to the number of said gas cracking reactors, said generators being contained in the wall of said vessel;  e. a plurality of recuperative heat exchangers equal to the number of said gas cracking reactors each of said heat exchangers being contained within the wall of said vessel and being positioned closely adjacent one of said gas cracking reactors;  f. a coaxial conduit connecting said adjacent heat exchanger and gas cracking reactor pairs; and  g. a coaxial conduit connecting said gas cracking reactor and steam generator pairs; whereby said coaxial donduits transport cooling gas through the exterior space therein. 2. The plant as defined in claim 1, further comprising a conduit extending from each of said recuperative hat exchangers outwardly through the base of said pressure vessel. 3. The plant as defined in claim 1, wherein said gas cracking rectors are tubular cracking ovens. 4. The plant as defined in claim 3, wherein said tubular cracking ovens, said steam generators and said recuperative heat exchangers are each symmetrically and removably installed in pods surrounding said high temperature reactor cavity, further comprising a blower installed underneath each steam generator. 5. The plant as defined in claim 4, comprising a plurality of identical primary cooling gas circuits, each of which comprises, in series, one of said tubular cracking ovens, one of said steam generators, and one of said blowers and interconnective conduit means for conveying cooling gas, between said circuit components. 6. The plant as defined in claim 5, comprising horizontal, linear conduit means for transporting cooling gas and process gas between all components of said circuits and for transporting cooling gas between the tubular cracking ovens and the high temperature reactor cavity. 7. The plant as defined in claim 4, wherein an annular passageway for the passage of gas is formed between each of said tubular cracking ovens and the wall of the pod containing it and between each of said steam generators and the wall of the pod containing it. 8. The plant as defined in claim 5, wherein four tubular cracking ovens are provided installed at 90.degree. angles with respect to one another. 9. The plant as defined in claim 4, wherein said pods comprise, at the top and at the base, pressure- and gas-tight sealing lids. 10. The plant as defined in claim 8, comprising conduit means extending to outside of said vessel through the top lid of the pods containing said steam generators and the base lid of the pods containing said recuperative heat exchangers. 11. The plant as defined in claim 1, comprising further a secondary cooling system installed inside said pressure vessel, said cooling system comprising a blower and a cooler, and said secondary cooling system being contained in a plurality of pods symmetrically placed around the reactor cavity.