Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus is disclosed comprising a heat exchanger casing having a plurality of box members suspended within the casing, with each box member having a plurality of tubular members disposed within an arrangement which permits the exchange of heat from a hot gas stream flowing outside the tubular members to a cooler gas stream flowing counter-currently within the tubular members. The heat exchanger apparatus is adapted especially for the use in high temperature nuclear reactors and is disposed within a pod in the reactor pressure vessel communicating directly with the reactor core. The suspension of the primary heat exchange components enables the achievement of excellent exchange capability with minimum stress on the exchanger apparatus as a result of thermal expansion. A method of exchanging heat from a primary cooling circuit of a high temperature reactor to an intermediate gas circuit of a heat process plant is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plant for the production of hydrogen, preferably for the hydrogenating gasification of coal, through utilization of heat energy derived from a gas-cooled, high-temperature nuclear reactor, comprising:A. a thick-walled pressure vessel;B. a high temperature reactor contained in a centrally oriented cavity within the vessel;C. a plurality of process gas cracking reactors contained within the wall of the vessel;D. a number of steam generators corresponding to the number of the gas cracking reactors, the generators being contained in the wall of the vessel;E. a number of recuperative heat exchangers corresponding to the number of gas cracking reactors, each of the heat exchangers being contained in the wall of the vessel and being positioned closely adjacent one of the gas cracking reactors; andF. a coaxial conduit connecting said adjacent heat exchanger and gas cracking reactor pairs.

Abstract: Disclosed is plant for the production and utilization of heat energy derived from a gas-cooled, high temperature nuclear reactor, preferably to produce hydrogen in secondary reactors, comprising a thick-walled vessel; a high temperature reactor contained in a centrally oriented cavity within the vessel; a number of steam generators corresponding to the number of the secondary reactors, the generators likewise being contained in the wall of the vessel; a number of blowers corresponding to the number of the steam generators each of the blowers also being contained in the wall of the vessel and being positioned beneath one of the steam generators; conduit means for transporting hot cooling gas from the nuclear reactor to the secondary reactors and from the secondary reactors to the blowers; and conduit means for transporting the cooling gas from each of the blowers to the nuclear reactor in a manner so that the gas surrounds the nuclear reactor, the secondary reactors, the blowers and the hot gas conduit means.

Abstract: A power plant having a closed gas-cooling circuit for the production of process heat to be transferred to a secondary circuit, comprising: (a) a vessel comprising a generally solid block of material; (b) a high-temperature reactor positioned within the vessel; (c) a plurality of heat exchanger units positioned about said reactor in the reactor in the vessel, the heat exchanger units comprising each a high temperature heat exchanger and a low temperature heat exchanger coupled serially therewith, each of the heat exchanger units being removably mounted in a vertically oriented shaft in the material; (d) first means for conducting a portion of a hot gas stream leaving the reactor to each of the high temperature heat exchangers where the hot gas is partially cooled by indirect contact with a working fluid in the secondary circuit; (e) second means for conducting said cooled gas from each of the high temperature heat exchangers to said low temperature heat exchangers coupled therewith where the gas is further coo