Heat transfer system

An intermediate heat exchanger that provides the required physical isolation between the primary reactor coolant loops and a secondary liquid loop in which steam is generated was developed. The intermediate heat exchanger is contained within a sealed vapor chamber that includes a bottom interior portion and an adjacent upper interior portion in vertical communication with one another. The chamber is exhausted of all noncondensible gases at ambient temperature. A heat transfer medium within the chamber maintains a two phase liquid-vapor-liquid system at the design heat transfer temperature. A first set of tubes in the bottom portion of the vapor chamber is supplied with primary reactor coolant. A second set of tubes in the upper portion of the chamber is supplied with water or steam. A thermal linkage is provided between the two sets of tubes by the heat transfer medium, which is evaporated in the vicinity of the first set and is condensed in the vicinity of the second set. This results in a latent heat transport system, condensate return being accomplished by gravity