Patent ID: 8073096

Claim:
A nuclear power plant comprising: a Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR); a hydrogen production facility spaced from the VHTR by a distance of about 100 m to about 140 m; and an intermediate heat exchanger (IHE) interposed between the VHTR and the hydrogen production facility, the IHE comprising: a first IHE portion comprising an evaporation chamber comprising a pool of working fluid directly connected to the VHTR and a first plurality of heat pipes for capturing and transferring heat from the VHTR into the working fluid to vaporize the working fluid; a second IHE portion elevated relative to the first IHE portion, wherein the second IHE portion comprises a condensation chamber directly connected to the hydrogen production facility and a second plurality of inclined heat pipes for transferring the heat from the vaporized working fluid into the hydrogen production facility by condensing the vaporized working fluid; and a common transport pipe connecting the evaporation chamber of the first IHE portion and the condensation chamber of the second IHE portion.