Abstract: Device for reducing thermal stresses on a heat exchanger between two counterflow-circulating liquid alkali metal circuits comprising an annular cylindrical nest of tubes surrounding an axial pipe for the introduction of the liquid alkali metal to be heated and extended by an annular pipe for discharging the heated liquid alkali metal, wherein it comprises in the said annular pipe for discharging the heated liquid alkali metal means for radially homogenizing the temperature of the alkali metal, said means comprising pipes which, at the outlet of the nest of tubes, tap a part of the relatively hotter alkali metal flowing along the outer periphery of the annular pipe to bring it into its flow area closest to the axis.

Abstract: A method of bending a long metal member of constant cross-section by locally heating a narrow zone on the periphery of said member by means of a heating collar (5) which surrounds said zone, by exerting thrust (2) on one end of the member and by supporting its other end by means of a pivoting arm (3). The temperature of the heated zone on the periphery of the member is kept substantially constant by detecting the temperature of this zone or the size of the gap which separates the heating collar from the periphery of said zone at at least two points around said periphery, one of these points being nearest the center of curvature and the other being on the opposite side to the first.

Abstract: A method of evaporating a pure liquid (4) by indirect heat exchange between it and a hotter fluid, said liquid flowing under the effect of gravity along a heat exchange surface (1). The vapor formed flows in the same direction (6) as the liquid (4) and the liquid flow speed is adjusted as a function of the heat exchanged via the heat exchange surface so that at least half of the liquid has evaporated by the time the remaining liquid reaches the bottom of the heat exchange surface.Application to heat exchanges using a liquid of which only a small volume is available.

Abstract: A device for fixing a panel of horizontal heat-exchange tubes on vertical tubes 1 or beams provided with longitudinal fins 2. It includes a series of shoulders 4 having upwardly projecting rims on the fins, parts 6 which form latches having noses 9 by which they are fixed on these rims and dogs 14 installed in holes 12 in the lower portions of the parts which form latches. The shoulders, the parts which form latches and the dogs co-operate to prevent the panel of tubes from being detached when it is positioned.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises: (a) stacked bundles of parallel corrugated wafers (4) between which the liquid droplet charged gas or vapour is made to flow, said bundles being housed between panels (e.g. 1) which are welded round all their edges to a support structure so as to define a horizontal gas or vapour flow direction between adjacent wafers; (b) gutters (9, 10, 11) for collecting the liquid running down the wafers, each gutter being located below a bundle of wafers; and (c) liquid drain tubes (12, 13, 14) for draining away the liquid collected by the gutters. The lower edges of the wafers are notched in such a manner as to catch drops of liquid flowing along said lower edges and cause them to drop into the gutters rather than being entrained by the flow of the gas or vapour.Such apparatus is used in separator-superheaters as used in power stations that generate electricity by expanding steam through turbines.

Abstract: A support or fixing device for pipes whose walls are thin in proportion to their diameter and which are subjected to great temperature variations and/or which must be protected against earthquakes. It includes a collar 3 which surrounds the pipe and is spaced apart therefrom and is pierced with holes 12 at least at two points symmetrically disposed, fittings 11 welded to the pipe at the center of said holes, connection parts 15 engaged in each of the fittings and flexible strips 17 welded on one side to the connection parts and on the other side to parts 18 integral with the collar. Application to pipes which convey fluids which have high specific heat or to pipes which are installed at a site which is exposed to earthquakes.

Abstract: A component for de-spinning a flow of dry vapor or gas and for separating liquid from the vapor or gas, said component including an outer vertical tube (4) for admission of a mixture of the vapor or gas and a liquid for separation which mixture is caused to spin and flow downwards. The component further comprises a coaxial inner tube (1) for collecting dry vapor or gas, provided with means (2) for de-spinning the flow of said dry vapor or gas, the lower edge of the outer tube being at a level lower than that of the upper edge of the inner tube. There are orifices formed in the periphery of the lower edge of the outer tube whose width decreases upwards, and parts for de-spinning the liquid which drops by gravity along the wall of the outer tube. Application to wet steam separators.

Abstract: A vertical separator for separating liquid or solid particles from a mixture of the particles and a vapor or a gas, said separator including, inside an outer casing a chamber for admitting the mixture, a plurality of vertical tubes whose ends are provided with fixed blades which impart a helical movement to the mixture and whose outlets are provided with a coaxial tube whose diameter is smaller and which allows dry vapor or gas to be removed in an inner tube and a mixture containing a higher proportion of liquid or solid particles to be removed in the annular space which leads into a free chamber where said mixture which contains a higher proportion of liquid or solid particles is allowed to be separated into substantially dry vapor or gas and a fluid which contains little vapor or gas.

Abstract: Apparatus for distribution and preliminary separation of a vapor-liquid mixture in a separator with horizontal axis, from a neck 10 on the lower generatrix of the separator, it comprising two symmetrical deflectors 11, 12 in the form of portions of cylinders, with parallel axes perpendicular to that of the separator, each cut by two oblique planes, and completed by three partitions 17, 18. Their edges are provided with troughs 21 for collecting and discharging the water deposited on their concave surface, issuing into spaces separated from the neck. The invention has application to separator-superheaters for wet water vapor from an expansion turbine.

Abstract: Apparatus for the purification of the liquid metal for cooling the core of a fast neutron reactor comprising a heat insulating envelope immersed in the reactor core and suspended from the protective slab surmounting the latter, a removable plug disposed in said slab and giving access to the upper part of the inside of the envelope and, within the latter, a cooling coil for cooling a liquid metal flow taken from the reactor core to a temperature which ensures the solidification of impurities, a filter cartridge for filtering the cooled liquid metal, a heat exchanger for the at least partial heating of the purified metal prior to its return to the reactor core and a valve for regulating the purified metal flow returned to the core, wherein it comprises a passage for returning to the upper part of the envelope purified metal from the filter cartridge, the purified metal being returned to the reactor core with the purified metal in heat exchange with the metal to be purified in a regulated flow, the regulating va

Abstract: A vertical steam separator-superheater which has a common casing (1) enclosing a lower separating portion (3) and an upper superheating portion (4). The separator-superheater includes an axial dry steam inlet zone, nests (16, 17) of superheating tubes disposed in envelopes spaced out round the central zone and fixed to a thin flexible casing (30) which is itself fixed to the upper portion of the common casing and an outer superheated steam collection zone (18). The lower portion includes a wet steam inlet chamber (5) and separators grouped in two coaxial truncated pyramide (10, 11).

Abstract: The device includes inside a cylindrical casing with a horizontal axis and parallel to said axis and symmetrical about the longitudinal plane of symmetry:a. in its lower portion, a pair of separator devices which remove the water from the water and steam emulsion which is to be superheated;b. in its upper portion, a pair of detachable nests of tubes which constitute the superheaters; andc. members forming channels which allow part of the water and steam emulsion to rise on either side of the separators and of the superheaters near the inside surface of the casing, then to drop back between them to enter the inlets of the separators near to the plane of symmetry.Application to supplying a high-power turbine with superheated steam.

Abstract: A vertical steam separator-superheater suitable for drying and superheating steam coming from a high-pressure expansion turbine.The separator-superheater has a common casing (1), enclosing a lower portion (3) which forms a separation zone and an upper portion (4) which forms a superheating zone, which has an axial dry steam inlet zone (15). Nests of superheater tubes are disposed in tubular modules 16 and 17 which are spaced out around the axial zone. A peripheral superheated steam collection zone (18) surrounds the superheater modules. The tubular modules of the superheater tubes are fixed to a thin flexible casing (30) which is itself fixed to the upper end (31) of the common casing. This arrangement reduces the number of expansion bends which would otherwise be required.

Abstract: A connection between tubes (26) in cyclone separators for separating liquid and vapour phases of a working fluid. It includes a pre-cut disc (21) in which are fitted the hexagonal ends (27) of stamped or cast metal adaptors, said adaptors being connected by their ends of the side opposite to the cross-sections of the tubes, thereby providing the inlet of the mixture in the tubes with a cross-section which is not very different from that of the supply tube.

Abstract: A vertical separator for separating the liquid and vapor phases of a fluid. The separator includes an outer casing having an inlet chamber for the vapor-mixture and vertical tubes provided at their inlets with fixed vanes which cause the mixture to flow helically. Coaxial tubes at their outputs, of smaller diameter enable dry vapor to be removed. A mixture with an increased liquid content is caused to be removed through the annular spaces, between the coaxial tubes. The annular spaces communicating with a free space in which said mixture with increased liquid content is separated into dry vapor and a liquid which still contains some vapor, and said inner tubes communicating with a dry vapor collecting chamber. An annular edge allows the vapor which is still contained in the liquid to escape upwardly through an annular peripheral passage between said annular edge and the outer casing.

Abstract: An assembly of two plane flanges of possibly different flexibilities clamped together by studs. It comprises sealing means including a lip weld in the plane of the join and centering rings disposed around each stud in each bore. Application to flanges connected to asymmetrical structures such as a collar and a cover.

Abstract: The invention provides, at the end of a pipe which extends a valve being part of an exhausting device for pressure-relieving a pressurized fluid, a nozzle which is exactly at the input of a hood, the convergent portion of said nozzle reducing its exit section so as to make it substantially double the maximum passageway section through the valve.

Abstract: A superheater-separator of steam coming from a high-pressure expansion turbine, before its admission into an expansion turbine at a lower pressure. The superheater-separator is divided into several vertical sectors comprising (from a central zone outwards) a zone for separating the water entrained by the steam and a superheating zone, at least one vertical section comprising only a zone for separating the water entrained by the steam for bleeding off a fraction of the dried steam before it is superheated.

Abstract: An auxiliary cooling device for a primary fluid heat exchanger of a rapid neutron nuclear reactor, the exchanger having at least one nest of tubes in which there flows water to be heated to superheated steam and around whose tubes and inside whose casing there flows a liquid alkaline metal constituting the primary fluid. The casing of the exchanger is surrounded by a jacket having an air inlet tube and an air outlet tube at opposite ends. Inside the jacket there are auxiliary heat exchange surfaces such as spikes projecting from the casing of the primary heat exchanger proper. Application is to the absorption of residual power produced by a rapid neutron reactor after it is shut down.

Abstract: The heat exchanger comprises an outer cylindrical casing and an inner cylindrical sleeve coaxially mounted therein. Dry superheated steam circulates in the jacket between the outer casing and the inner sleeve, and may be extracted at any convenient point along the casing. Wet steam is introduced into the inner casing whose lower portion comprises a separation baffle for removing water from the wet steam and whose upper portion has nests of heat exchanging tubes for superheating the steam.