Intermediate heat exchanger project for Super Phenix

The design of the intermediate heat exchangers for the Super Phenix was derived directly from the design used in the Phenix, which has been linked to the electrical grid since late 1973. These heat exchangers permit the transfer of thermal energy from the core, by way of the radioactive primary sodium which is confined to the principal reactor vessel, to the secondary sodium which brings the heat to the steam generators. Discussed in particular is the tube bundle which is the active part of the heat exchanger. From a similar geometry in the two reactors Phenix and Super Phenix, straight tubes were designed, without expansion joints, supported by tube constraint systems, and soldered to two ring-shaped plates. The tubes have a 14 mm exterior diameter and a 1 mm thickness and they are fastened to the plates in cylindrical layers with a 19 mm radial pitch and an approximately 20 mm circular pitch