Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
  • F28F9/026—Header boxes; End plates with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits
  • F28F9/027—Header boxes; End plates with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits in the form of distribution pipes
  • F28F9/0275—Header boxes; End plates with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits in the form of distribution pipes with multiple branch pipes
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D9/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
  • F28D9/0081—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by a single plate-like element ; the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being integrated in one single plate-like element
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F3/00—Plate-like or laminated elements; Assemblies of plate-like or laminated elements
  • F28F3/08—Elements constructed for building-up into stacks, e.g. capable of being taken apart for cleaning
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
  • F28F9/026—Header boxes; End plates with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
  • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
  • G21C15/00—Cooling arrangements within the pressure vessel containing the core; Selection of specific coolants
  • G21C15/02—Arrangements or disposition of passages in which heat is transferred to the coolant; Coolant flow control devices
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
  • G21D—NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
  • G21D1/00—Details of nuclear power plant
  • G21D1/006—Details of nuclear power plant primary side of steam generators
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/0054—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for nuclear applications
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F2210/00—Heat exchange conduits
  • F28F2210/02—Heat exchange conduits with particular branching, e.g. fractal conduit arrangements
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
  • Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a heat exchanger module with a stack of metal plates, integrating at least two fluid circuits.
• the invention relates more particularly to the realization of a new type of heat exchanger module to improve the uniformity of the distribution of the different channels of internal circulation of fluids, while ensuring both good thermal efficiency and a satisfactory thermomechanical loading, without harming the compactness of the module.
• the known heat exchangers comprise either at least two internal fluid circulation channel circuits.
• the heat exchange takes place between the circuit and a surrounding fluid in which it is immersed.
• the heat exchange takes place between the two fluid circuits.
• the present invention also relates to the production of heat exchanger modules with only heat exchange function and integrating two fluid circuits that the realization of exchangers-reactors. Also, by "heat exchanger module with at least two fluid circuits", it is necessary to understand, in the context of the invention, both a heat exchanger module with a function solely of heat exchange and an exchanger. -reactor.
• the main use of an exchanger module between two fluids according to the invention is its use with a gas as one of the two fluids. It may advantageously be liquid metal and gas, for example liquid sodium and nitrogen.
• the main application targeted by an exchanger module according to the invention is the heat exchange between a liquid metal, such as liquid sodium, of the secondary loop and nitrogen as a gas of the tertiary loop of a fast neutron reactor cooled with the liquid metal, such as the liquid sodium called RNR-Na or SFR (acronym for "Sodium Fast Reactor") and which is part of the so-called fourth-generation reactor family.
• a liquid metal such as liquid sodium
• SFR synchrom for "Sodium Fast Reactor
• a heat exchanger module according to the invention can also be implemented in any other application requiring an exchange between two fluids, such as a liquid and a gas, preferably when it is necessary to have a compact exchanger. and of great thermal power.
• primary fluid means the usual thermal meaning, namely the hot fluid which transfers its heat to the secondary fluid which is the cold fluid.
• secondary fluid in the context of the invention, the usual thermal sense, namely the cold fluid to which is transferred the heat of the primary fluid.
• the primary fluid is the sodium that circulates in the so-called secondary loop of the thermal conversion cycle of a reactor RNR-Na, while the secondary fluid is the nitrogen that circulates in the tertiary loop of said cycle.
• the known tube exchangers are, for example, tube and shell exchangers, in which a bundle of upright or bent U-shaped or helical tubes is fixed on pierced plates and disposed inside a chamber waterproof called calender.
• calender a chamber waterproof
• one of the fluids circulates inside the tubes while the other fluid circulates inside the shell.
• These tube and shell exchangers have a large volume and are therefore of low compactness.
• a heat exchange pattern is defined by a structure delimited by fins, the structures being reported between two metal plates and can have very varied geometries.
• the exchange pattern may be different between one of the two fluid circuits of the exchanger and the other.
• the assembly between metal plates is usually by soldering or by diffusion welding.
• Corrugated or corrugated plate heat exchangers are also known.
• the corrugations are created by stamping a plate separating the two fluid circuits.
• the exchange pattern is identical for each of the two fluid circuits.
• the flow of fluids generated by this type of exchange pattern is three-dimensional and, therefore, is very efficient.
• the joining between plates is done either by bolted connection or by their peripheral welding (conventional welding, or welding-diffusion).
• machining is mechanical or electrochemically.
• the channels defined by the machining are of millimeter section and are usually continuous and in a regular zigzag profile.
• the plates are assembled by welding-diffusion allowing welding on all points of contact between two adjacent plates. This type of milled plate heat exchanger is intrinsically very resistant to pressure.
• Some inventors of the present invention have designed a plate stacked module heat exchanger for the heat exchange between a gas and a liquid metal in the context of the realization of a nuclear reactor of the family of so-called fourth generation reactors, that is to say in a heat exchange configuration between an excellent coolant, the liquid metal, typically liquid sodium (Na) and a fluid with much lower thermal transport properties, the gas, typically nitrogen (N 2 ).
• the liquid metal typically liquid sodium (Na) and a fluid with much lower thermal transport properties
• the gas typically nitrogen (N 2 ).
• the sealed enclosure has a role of collector of the gas circuit and the dimensioning of the heat exchanger modules is driven first by the gas, because it is the least good coolant of the two fluids.
• the size of the exchange pattern of the gas circulation channels is strictly dictated by thermohydraulic performance constraints, the size of the liquid metal circulation channels must take into account the risks of clogging related to the circulation of the metal. liquid, which limits the minimum section of the circulation channels of the latter. Taking also into account the differences in physical characteristics, more particularly in density, between a gas and a liquid metal, a resulting exchanger module has pressure losses in the liquid metal circulation channels which are very low, typically of the order 40 mbar.
• each exchanger module has a unit thermal power of the order of 12 MWth, which implies, with the dimensioning rules, a very large number of fluid circulation channels, typically equal to about 5000 for a module.
• each module is arranged inside a chamber pressurized by the gas.
• the structures supplying and recovering the liquid metal consisting of manifolds and distribution piping, may be subjected to high temperature compression forces which without particular precautions could lead to damage by buckling under creep. Also, from a thermomechanical point of view, these structures must be designed as compact as possible.
• One of the known solutions consists in increasing the size of the liquid metal collectors, in order to reduce the velocity field in the latter and thus the dynamic pressure, in comparison with the pressure drop within the channels of the module. This solution can not be retained because as mentioned above, the structures supplying and recovering the liquid metal must be as compact as possible and therefore the collector as small as possible.
• FIGS. 1 to 3 show bifurcation examples from a single channel 10 made in a metal plate, which respectively lead to a number of sixteen channels 10.1 to 10.16 or five channels 10.1 to 10.2 for the zone of exchange. It should be noted that the configuration of FIG. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the channels are interconnected in the central exchange part.
• This solution is all the more effective if the pressure loss of the channels is high, typically corresponding to a value of 10% of residual dispersion and a pressure variation of 500 mbar, or to a value of 13% of residual dispersion and a variation of pressure of 350 mbar.
• the patent application WO2015 / 092199 discloses a compact catalytic reactor with at least three plates, the channels of the plates having at least one zone of straight channels of millimeter size, which is a heat exchange zone and at least one zone fluid distribution upstream and / or downstream of the exchange zone, with a discontinuity of the walls (ribs) which separate the channels along the distribution zone, and an increase in the width of the walls along the distribution area.
• US Pat. No. 4,665,975 discloses a plate-bonded heat exchanger assembled by diffusion welding, the channels of each plate being configured with three zones including a collector zone, a pre-collector zone, and a distribution / exchange zone, the channels communicating with each other, transversely to the longitudinal axis of the plates, at the interface between the pre-collector zone and the exchange zone, which allows pressure rebalancing.
• the object of the invention is to at least partially meet this need.
• the subject of the invention is a longitudinal axis heat exchanger module (X) comprising a stack of plates defining at least two fluid circuits, at least a portion of the plates each comprising circulation channels of fluid each delimited at least in part by a groove, the channels of at least one of the two circuits, said first circuit, having:
• a zone for supplying the fluid from outside the stack in which the channels are parallel to one another and extend along an axis intersecting with the longitudinal axis X and in which two channels adjacent communicating with each other by at least one opening opening made in the separation rib of their respective groove;
• each channel is divided into at least two straight channels, parallel to each other and which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) being separated from each other by a rib;
• connection zone between the feed zone and the bifurcation zone, the zone in which each channel has a straight profile which extends along the secant axis ( ⁇ ') and a continuous curved profile with the straight profile to connect the channel with a right channel of the bifurcation zone;
• the channels of each plate of the first circuit communicate with those of the other plates of the first circuit in their feed zone. respective, through openings through the stack but which do not communicate with the channels of the second circuit.
• the invention essentially consists of judiciously combining a communication of the channels between them within a same plate and between all the plates of the same circuit, in a feed zone or pre-collector, with a succession grouping channels in pairs in the form of bifurcations.
• the communication between channels acts as a jet breaker which is integrated in each plate and between the plates, which allows a natural rebalancing of the flows between all the channels of the same fluid and thus guarantees a homogeneous distribution.
• the channel grouping sequence reduces the number of channels to be fed by the collector outside the stack and thereby increase the induced pressure drop and also reduce the size of the collector.
• the main advantages of the invention are to be able to deal with the problem of poor distribution of one of the fluids within a heat exchanger module without adding a non-integrated device by changes in the pressure drop (bifurcation zone). and with an integrated grid allowing communication between channels of the same plate and between plates, allowing the module to remain very compact and decreasing the size of the input collector.
• the invention also makes it possible to reduce the number of channels to be fed, which makes it possible to reduce the size of the collector, and to improve the thermomechanical dimensioning.
• the inventors have carried out preliminary computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations, which have shown that the invention makes it possible to improve the homogeneity of liquid sodium distribution within the framework of the invention.
• CFD computational fluid dynamics
• a heat exchanger module in real conditions of use in the context of a Na / Gas exchanger of a fourth generation nuclear reactor.
• the curved profile of each channel of the first circuit comprises two curves for connecting the right profile of the connection zone to the right channel of the bifurcation zone.
• each right channel is divided into four channels in the bifurcation zone.
• the angle between the secant axis ( ⁇ ') and the longitudinal axis (X) of the module is between 0 and 45 °.
• an advantageous alternative may consist in inserting a plate of the first circuit between two plates of the second circuit at least in the central part of the stack.
• the channels of the first circuit may have an ovoid, circular, rectangular or square section.
• the metallic material constituting the plates of the exchanger module according to the invention is chosen as a function of the conditions of its required use, namely the pressure of the fluids, the temperatures and the nature of the fluids flowing through the module.
• It may be for example aluminum, copper, nickel, titanium or alloys of these elements as well as a steel, especially an alloy steel or a stainless steel or a refractory metal selected from alloys of niobium, molybdenum, tantalum or tungsten.
• the invention also relates to a method for producing a heat exchanger module described above, comprising the following steps:
• the invention also relates to a heat exchanger comprising a sealed enclosure, intended to be pressurized by a fluid flowing in the second circuit and a plurality of heat exchanger modules such as that described above, each extending parallel to the central axis of the enclosure and each arranged inside the enclosure.
• the invention also relates to the use of the heat exchanger described above, the fluid of the first circuit, as the primary fluid being a liquid metal and the second fluid of the second circuit, as a secondary fluid, being a gas or a mixture of gases.
• the fluid of the second circuit may comprise mainly nitrogen and the first fluid of the first is liquid sodium.
• the fluid of the first or second circuit may come from a nuclear reactor.
• the subject of the invention is a nuclear installation comprising a fast neutron nuclear reactor cooled with liquid metal, in particular liquid sodium called R R-Na or SFR, and a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of exchanger modules described below. above.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a plate heat exchanger module plate according to an example of the state of the art, with a single input and output channel and bifurcations before the zone. exchange;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a plate heat exchanger module plate according to another example of the state of the art with a single input and output channel and bifurcations before the zone. exchange;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a plate heat exchanger module plate according to yet another example of the state of the art with a single input and output channel and bifurcations before the exchange zone;
• FIG. 4 is a plan view of a plate heat exchanger module plate according to a first variant of the invention with a feed zone at plurality of input channels forming a feed gate and an area with bifurcations before the exchange zone;
• FIG. 5 is a view from above of a plate heat exchanger module plate according to a second variant of the invention with a feed zone with a plurality of input channels forming a grid and a zone with bifurcations before the exchange zone;
• FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view showing the stack of plates of a module according to the invention, at the level of the feed zone with a grid according to a first variant;
• FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view showing the stack of plates of a module according to the invention, at the level of the feed zone with a grid according to a second variant;
• FIG. 8 is a detail view in accordance with the second variant of FIG. 7, FIG. 8 showing an example of dimensions
• FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a bifurcation zone portion according to the invention, FIG. 9 showing an example of dimensions.
• FIGS. 4 to 7 show a plate 1 of one of the two fluid circuits, said first circuit, of a heat exchanger module according to the invention, which extends along a longitudinal axis X.
• This first circuit is intended to circulate preferably a liquid metal, such as liquid sodium.
• This plate 1 is grooved with channels 10, 11, 12, 13 with zones ZI, Z2, Z3, Z4 made and shaped differently.
• the channels 10 are parallel to each other and extend along an axis X 'intersecting with the longitudinal axis X and two adjacent channels 10 communicate with each other by at least one opening opening 16 made in the rib 15 of separation of their respective groove.
• through openings 17 are formed within each channel 10 to allow communication between all plates 1 of the first circuit through the stack. To do this, other through openings not shown are also made through the plates 2 of the second circuit. These other through openings do not allow communication between the channels of the first circuit with those of the second circuit.
• the channels 10 with the openings between channels 16 and the openings 17 passing through the plates 1 form each of them a communication grid between channels of the same plate 1 and between plates 1.
• each channel has a straight profile 11 which extends along the secant axis X 'and a curved profile 12 continuous with the right profile to connect the channel 11 with a right channel of a bifurcation zone Z3 in the continuity downstream of the connection zone Z2.
• FIG. 5 is a variant of FIG. 4 in which the curved profiles are of shorter length in order to have all the channels 13 in the bifurcation zone aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis X.
• the connecting zone Z2 has a relatively large area, which ensures a sufficient physical separation between the supply zone ZI and the bifurcation zone Z3 downstream. This physical separation makes it possible to provide sufficient space in the plates 2 of the second circuit so that no communication between the channels of the first circuit is made with those of the second circuit.
• each channel 13 is divided into four channels 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4 straight, parallel to each other and which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis X being separated from each other by a rib.
• FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the supply zone ZI, in which the rib portions 18 which separate the openings 16 between the channels 10 are all identical and aligned, as well as the through openings 17.
• FIG. 8 shows an example of dimensioning of the plate 1 in the supply zone ZI according to the variant of FIG. 7.
• Figure 9 shows an example of sizing of a channel 13 to four bifurcations 13.1 to 13.4, from the curved profile 12 of the connecting zone Z2.
• metal plates 1 of rectangular shapes, identical to each other, respectively grooves with ZI feed zones, connection Z2, bifurcation Z3 and exchange Z4 as detailed above.
• the plates 1 are then machined in the zones ZI so as to have the through openings 16 between the channels 10 and the openings 17 passing through each plate 1.
• An alternating stack of the plates 1 of the first circuit is made with the plates 2 of the second circuit so as to have the through openings 17 which allow communication between channels of the plates 1 of the first circuit but not with those of the plates of the second circuit.
• the metal plates 1, 2 are then assembled together, either by hot isostatic compression (CIC), or by a hot uniaxial diffusion-diffusion process so as to obtain a diffusion bonding between them.
• CIC hot isostatic compression
• a channel according to Comparative Examples 1 and 2 has the same dimensions, i.e. width, length and height as a channel according to Example 3 according to the invention.
• Comparative Example 1 refers to a module according to the state of the art, in which the channels of the Z4 of the circuit Na are straight and all open into the collector.
• Comparative Example 2 relates to a module comprising channels in the plates 1 only between the fluid inlet and the exchange zone Z4, a zone Z3 with the bifurcations as represented in FIGS. 4 and 5 and dimensioned as those of FIG. the invention in Figure 9.
• Example 3 is in accordance with the invention, with a module comprising channels in the plates 1 with all the zones ZI to Z4, the zone ZI being dimensioned as in FIG. 8 and the zone Z3 with the bifurcations dimensioned as those of FIG. invention in Figure 9.
• the gas circuit in an exchanger module between a liquid metal, such as liquid sodium, and a gas, such as nitrogen, can advantageously be envisaged with straight channels and a liquid metal circuit with the channels having the different zones ZI, Z2, Z3, TA, and preferably larger sections than those of the channels of the gas circuit.
• a liquid / gas metal exchanger is an example of application, and one can very well envisage having the same zones ZI to Z4 according to the invention, for the two fluid circuits within the same exchanger .
• the second circuit is rather dedicated to the flow of gas, it should not introduce too much loss of charge, and therefore it is preferable not to make a bifurcation zone for the plates of the second circuit.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
• High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
• Details Of Heat-Exchange And Heat-Transfer (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

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• 2016
  • 2016-08-03 FR FR1657543A patent/FR3054879B1/fr active Active
• 2017
  • 2017-08-02 US US16/321,081 patent/US11340028B2/en active Active
  • 2017-08-02 CN CN201780047607.7A patent/CN109642779B/zh active Active
  • 2017-08-02 WO PCT/EP2017/069510 patent/WO2018024765A1/fr unknown
  • 2017-08-02 EP EP17745748.8A patent/EP3494352A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2017-08-02 JP JP2019505353A patent/JP2019523383A/ja active Pending
  • 2017-08-02 KR KR1020197003061A patent/KR20190026808A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation

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