Abstract: Heating equipment for supplying steam and heated gas, including a combustion chamber from which come flue gases which flow through an enclosure, heating on the way at least one bundle of tubes in which water flows and gives off steam, and which further includes at least one bundle of tubes traversed by a gas and located in the enclosure so as to be heated by the flue gases from the combustion chamber.

Abstract: The heat exchanger comprises a vertical outer cylindrical shell of substantial length, a distributor for supplying the internal space of the shell with liquid sodium, at least one tube bundle placed within the shell for circulating water in heat-exchange relation with the sodium and means for maintaining an inert gas atmosphere above a predetermined free level of liquid sodium. The top and bottom tube ends are fitted with thermal sleeves for joining them to the lateral wall of the shell and passing them through this latter. The distributor is placed within the shell above the tube bundle between the top end of said bundle and the free level of liquid sodium.