[en] The different processes of high temperature process application require new concepts for heat exchangers to carry out key process like steam reforming of light hydrocarbons, gasification of coal or biomass, or thermo-chemical cycles for hydrogen production. These components have been tested in the German projects for high temperature development. The intention was always to test at original conditions of temperatures, pressures and gas atmospheres. Furthermore the time of testing should be long as possible, to be able to carry out extrapolations to the real lifetime of components. Partly test times of around 20 000 hours have been reached. Key components, which are discussed in this paper, are: Intermediate heat exchangers to separate the primary reactor side and the secondary process side. Here two components with a power of 10 MW have been tested with the result, that all requirements of a nuclear component with larger power (125 MW) can be fulfilled. The max. primary helium temperature was 950°C, the maximal secondary temperature was 900°C. These were components with helical wounded tubes and U-tubes. In the test facility KVK, which had been built to carry out many special tests on components for helium cycles, furthermore hot gas ducts (with large dimensions), hot gas valves (with large dimensions), steam generators (10 MW), helium circulators, the helium gas purification and special measurements installations for helium cycle have been tested. All these tests delivered a broad know how for the urther development of technologies using helium as working fluid. The total test time of KVK was longer than 20 000 h. In a large test facility for steam reforming (EVAⅡ10 MW, T_H_e=950°C, p_H_e=40 bar, T_R_e_f_o_r_m=800°C) all technical details of the conversion process have been investigated and today the technical feasibility of this process is valuated as given. Two reformer bundles, one with baffles and one with separate guiding tubes for each reformer tube have been tested successfully. The test time in totally was longer than 10 000 h. A hot steam generator with a power of 10 MW (T_H_e=950°C, p_H_e=40 bar) for application in different processes has been tested over a long time with good success too. For the steam gasification of coal or other C-containing substances a special gasifier has undergone long time testing with great success. This component (T_H_e=950°C, p=40 bar) for application in different processes has been tested over a time of more than 10 000 h. This component (P≈ 3MW,T_H_e=1000°C, p_H_e=40 bar, T_g_a_s_i_f =800°C) represented a characteristic part of a large fluidized bed gasifier. The development work additionally contained a broad material program for alloys applied at helium temperatures of around 950°C. All mechanical relevant data till 30000 hours, data of corrosion, Tritium- and hydrogen permeation have been measured for some promising candidates. Special experiments related to reaction kinetics, heat transfer, pressure drops, vibration, friction and wear, behavior on special components in helium have been carried out and delivered a broad know how on helium technologies. During the planning work for different reactor concepts all questions of coupling nuclear reactors and processes have been analyzed in detail and partly have undergone steps of a nuclear licensing process. It was shown, that extreme safety requirements of the nuclear heat source and the total plant could be fulfilled. (author)