Classifications

• • 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
  • F28D15/00—Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies
  • F28D15/02—Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes
  • F28D15/0275—Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• • 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
  • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
  • F28D7/0008—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits for one medium being in heat conductive contact with the conduits for the other medium
  • F28D7/0025—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits for one medium being in heat conductive contact with the conduits for the other medium the conduits for one medium or the conduits for both media being flat tubes or arrays of tubes
  • F28D7/0033—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits for one medium being in heat conductive contact with the conduits for the other medium the conduits for one medium or the conduits for both media being flat tubes or arrays of tubes the conduits for one medium or the conduits for both media being bent
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
  • B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
  • B33Y80/00—Products made by additive manufacturing
• • 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
  • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
  • F28D7/16—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation
  • F28D7/163—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation with conduit assemblies having a particular shape, e.g. square or annular; with assemblies of conduits having different geometrical features; with multiple groups of conduits connected in series or parallel and arranged inside common casing
  • F28D7/1669—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation with conduit assemblies having a particular shape, e.g. square or annular; with assemblies of conduits having different geometrical features; with multiple groups of conduits connected in series or parallel and arranged inside common casing the conduit assemblies having an annular shape; the conduits being assembled around a central distribution tube
• • 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
  • F28D9/0031—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 paired plates touching each other
• • 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
  • F28F3/086—Elements constructed for building-up into stacks, e.g. capable of being taken apart for cleaning having one or more openings therein forming tubular heat-exchange passages
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F7/00—Elements not covered by group F28F1/00, F28F3/00 or F28F5/00
  • F28F7/02—Blocks traversed by passages for heat-exchange media
• • 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
• • 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
  • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
  • G21C15/00—Cooling arrangements within the pressure vessel containing the core; Selection of specific coolants
  • G21C15/28—Selection of specific coolants ; Additions to the reactor coolants, e.g. against moderator corrosion
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
  • B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
  • B33Y30/00—Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• • 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
  • F28D15/00—Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies
  • F28D15/02—Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat 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
  • 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
• • 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

• Carbon dioxide usually behaves as a gas in air at standard temperature and pressure, or as a solid called dry ice when frozen. If the temperature and pressure are both increased from standard temperature and pressure to be at or above the critical point for carbon dioxide, it can adopt properties midway between a gas and a liquid. More specifically, carbon dioxide behaves as a supercritical fluid above its critical temperature (304.25 K, 31.10 °C, 87.98 °F) and critical pressure (72.9 atm, 7.39 MPa, 1,071 psi), expanding to fill its container like a gas but with the density like that of a liquid. [0004] sCO 2 is chemically stable, reliable, low-cost, non-toxic, non-flammable and readily available, making it a desirable candidate for a working fluid.
• sCO 2 due to its superior thermal stability and non-flammability, direct heat exchange from high temperature sources is possible, permitting higher working fluid temperatures and therefore higher cycle efficiency. Unlike two-phase flow, the single-phase nature of sCO 2 eliminates the necessity of a heat input for phase change that is required for the water to steam conversion, thereby also eliminating associated thermal fatigue and corrosion. Despite the promise of substantially higher efficiency and lower capital costs, the use of sCO 2 presents material selection and design issues. Materials in power generation components must display resistance to damage caused by high-temperature, oxidation and creep.
• incumbent alloys in power generation such as nickel-based superalloys for turbomachinery components and austenitic stainless steels for piping.
• Integrating protective heat pipe sleeves into the header chambers and heat exchanger block section becomes difficult, if not impossible, due to the limited space available for connecting or welding the chamber and sleeves to the heat exchanger section and remaining real estate for the sCO 2 channels into the heat exchanger block.
• Thicker protective material around the heat pipe also reduces the heat transfer capability of the heat exchanger substantially. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an integrated block style heat exchanger design that will practicably enable the heat output of a heat pipe reactor to be effectively transferred to a sCO 2 secondary side and operate with a minimum of maintenance.
• an integrated block style heat exchanger for use with a heat pipe reactor having a plurality of heat pipes extending from a reactor core.
• the heat exchanger comprises: a plurality of primary channels each structured to receive heat transferred from the core via a corresponding one of the plurality of heat pipes, the plurality of primary channels defined within a block of one or more materials, each primary channel extending in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger from a first end of the heat exchanger to a second end of the heat exchanger; and a plurality of secondary channels defined within the block, each secondary channel being structured to transmit a flow of the secondary heat transfer medium through the heat exchanger from an inlet to an outlet of the heat exchanger, each secondary channel comprising: a first portion extending from the inlet to adjacent at least one of the primary channels; a second portion extending along, being situated in heat exchange proximity to, and separated from, at the at least one of the primary channels; and a third
• the second portion of each secondary channel may comprise a plurality of separate sub channels, each spaced around the at least one of the primary channels and extending between the first portion and the third portion of the secondary channel.
• the block may comprise the plurality of plates bonded together.
• the plurality of plates may be arranged in a stack prior to, or as they are bonded together.
• the plurality of plates may be bonded together via one or more of: diffusion bonding, brazing or hot isostatic pressing.
• the portion of the one or more of the plurality of primary channels and/or the plurality of secondary channels may be formed via one or more of: machining, laser cutting, chemical etching, electrical discharge machining, electro-chemical machining, and/or stamping.
• the block may comprise the unitary piece of material formed from the additive manufacturing process.
• At least one of the inlet and/or the outlet may comprise a circumferential header cavity structured to transmit the flow of the secondary heat transfer medium to or from each secondary channel of the plurality of secondary channels.
• the circumferential header cavity may extend along only a portion of a circumference of the heat exchanger.
• the circumferential header cavity may extend along an entire circumference of the heat exchanger.
• At least one of the inlet and the outlet may comprise an integral header.
• the integral header may be a flanged header.
• the plurality of secondary channels may exit the block via multiple plates.
• a nuclear reactor comprises: a core; a block style heat exchanger such as described herein; and a plurality of heat pipes, each heat pipe extending from the core to a corresponding primary channel of the heat exchanger, wherein each heat pipe is structured to transfer heat from the core to the corresponding primary channel of the heat exchanger.
• Figure 1 is a partially schematic perspective view of a portion of a heat pipe reactor and a block style heat exchanger in accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention with an open circumferential header cavity attached to the blocks, with the peripheral portions of the heat exchanger shown partially transparent so the internal passageways and tubular openings can be visualized;
• Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of another block style heat exchanger in accordance with another example embodiment of the present invention having integral headers and flanges;
• Figure 3 is a partially exploded view of a header region of the heat exchanger of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a partially exploded views of a header region similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 3 except such arrangement is structured to interface with circumferential headers such as shown in Figure 1 rather than the integrated headers such as shown
• Embodiments of the present invention provide block style heat exchanger arrangements that enable the integration of a sCO 2 secondary cycle into a heat pipe reactor.
• the block style heat exchanger is generally formed from a block (of any suitable shape) of material (generally referred to herein as "the block") contains channels for the heat pipes coming from the reactor along with smaller channels for the sCO 2 defined/formed therein.
• the smaller channels extend between inlets and outlets and are positioned around and extend along the heat pipes.
• the center heat exchanger portion of the block is made up of thin sheet metal shims or plates, which contain through holes for both the heat pipe channels and the sCO 2 channels.
• the shims or plates may be produced, for example, without limitation, by machining, laser cutting, chemical etching, EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining), ECM (Electro-Chemical Machining), stamping or other metal fabrication methods.
• the end sections of the block can also be made from similar shims, which contains holes and channels, produced, for example, by laser cutting, machining, EDM, ECM or chemical etching, to create sCO 2 flow paths perpendicular to the heat pipe, in order for the sCO 2 channels to collect in headers on the periphery of the block.
• the entire plate portion of the heat exchanger is bonded into a single block using, for example, diffusion bonding, brazing or hot isostatic pressing.
• the heat exchanger headers may be internal chambers, slots or channels within the block that are cut/formed in the individual shims, or chambers that are attached to the outside of the main heat exchanger block.
• the block style heat exchangers described herein may be produced entirely or in sections using various additive manufacturing technologies including large scale powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, binder jetting, ultrasonic, friction stir and/or hybrid additive manufacturing.
• the phrase "and/or" shall mean either one, or both of the items separated by such phrase (i.e., something including A and/or B may include A alone, B alone, or both A and B.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a partially schematic perspective view of a portion of a heat pipe nuclear reactor 2 having a reactor core 4 and a plurality of heat pipes 6, each heat pipe 6 extending from core 4 to a block style heat exchanger 10 in accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention.
• Heat exchanger 10 is formed generally as a block of material of materials (such as the cylindrically shaped block of Figure 1) and includes a plurality of primary channels 12 defined therein that extend generally in a first direction along a longitudinal axis A of heat exchanger 10.
• Each of primary channels 12 is formed generally as a tubular member that is structured to transmit a flow of a primary heat transfer medium through heat exchanger 10.
• each heat pipe 6 extends from core 4 to a corresponding primary channel 12.
• Each heat pipe 6 is structured to transfer heat from core 6 to the corresponding primary channel 12 of heat exchanger 10.
• Heat exchanger 10 also includes a plurality of smaller secondary channels 14 defined in the block of material, with each secondary channel 14 being structured to transmit a secondary heat transfer medium (e.g., sCO 2 ) between a circumferential inlet header 16 and a circumferential outlet header 18.
• a secondary heat transfer medium e.g., sCO 2
• each secondary channel 14 extends from inlet header 16 along a first portion 20 to adjacent a corresponding primary channel 12, where secondary channel 14 then transitions from first portion 20 to a second portion 22 that is disposed along the primary channel 12 over a heat exchange portion of the heat exchanger 10.
• Second portion 22 of each of secondary channels 14 is in heat exchange proximity to, but spaced from, the corresponding primary channel 12.
• second portion 22 of each secondary channel 14 may consist of a single channel running along primary channel 12 or may be a plurality of (i.e., two or more) sub-channels positioned around primary channel 12. At the lower end of the heat exchange portion of heat exchanger 10 each secondary channel 14 transitions from second portion 22 to a third portion 24 that extends from near primary channel 12 to outlet header 18.
• second portions 22 of secondary channels 14 are positioned generally vertically along longitudinal axis A while first and third portions 20 and 24 of secondary channels 14 are positioned generally normal (i.e., generally at 90°) to axis A, however, it is to be appreciated that first and third portions 20 and 24 of secondary channels 14 may be oriented at any non-zero angle with respect to second portions 22 without varying from the scope of the present invention.
• circumferential inlet and outlet headers 16 and 18 may extend completely around heat exchanger 10, such as illustrated by the outlet header 18 in Figure 1, or may extend only partially around the heat exchanger 10, as illustrated by the inlet header 16 in Figure 1.
• Circumferential headers 16 and 18 may be formed as separate components and attached to the heat exchanger 10 via any suitable means (e.g., without limitation, mechanically or by welding) or may be formed integrally with heat exchanger 10 via any suitable means.
• Figure 2 illustrates another heat exchanger 10 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention that includes integral inlet and outlet headers 16 and 18 instead of the circumferential inlet and outlet headers 16 and 18 shown in Figure 1.
• heat exchanger 10, illustrated in Figure 2 is the same as the heat exchanger 10 illustrated in Figure 1.
• Figure 3 shows a partially exploded view of a portion of outlet header 18 of heat exchanger 10 of Figure 2, showing third portions 24 of secondary channels 14 that extend from adjacent primary channels 12 to the outlet header 18 with second portions 22 of secondary channels 14 traversing multiple layers of the block segments 26, which are also referred to herein as shims or plates.
• the upper segment 28 and the lower segment 30 of Figure 3 are shown as thick portions of the heat exchange portion, each of the segments 28 and 30 may be, and preferably are, made up of multiple layers of plates 26 that are bonded together.
• Each of the secondary channels 14 may be formed by any suitable machining process, or by chemical or laser etching.
• each secondary channel 14 consist of a plurality of small conduits or sub-channels circumferentially spaced around the respective primary channel 12.
• Figure 4 shows a similar arrangement as Figure 3 except the arrangement of Figure 4 can interface with circumferential headers 16 and 18 such as those illustrated in Figure 1, rather than the integrated headers 16 and 18 such as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
• Figures 5 and 6 show a similar arrangement to that shown in Figures 3 and 4 except third portions 24 of secondary channels 14 are only defined in, and extend in one layer of the plates 26, rather than through the tiered layers such as shown in the arrangement of Figure 3.
• the layer 26 housing third portions 24 of secondary channels 14 is much thicker than the other layers of plates 26 in order to accommodate a sufficient volume of the secondary heat transfer medium.
• the heat exchanger arrangements described herein are especially suited for interfacing a heat pipe reactor to a sCO 2 secondary cycle, it is to be appreciated that the arrangements are applicable to other applications where the primary fluid would transverse the primary channels 12 and the secondary fluid would traverse the secondary channels 14.
• Various shim (i.e., plate or block segment) manufacturing and bonding options enable multiple design feature options, including heat exchanger size, length, primary channel size, secondary channel size, shape, and path, and header size, shape and location.
• the heat exchangers could be produced with a variety of additive manufacturing techniques, including powder bed fusion, binder jetting, directed energy deposition or hybrid additive manufacturing, in a similar layered approach.
• the layered approach enables automation during manufacturing, such as laser cutting, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining, forming process and plate stacking and handling automation process, which enables automated fabrication of nuclear reactors.

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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)
• Geometry (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)

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• 2019
  • 2019-12-30 US US16/729,684 patent/US11300359B2/en active Active
• 2020
  • 2020-12-29 WO PCT/US2020/067292 patent/WO2021138310A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2020-12-29 ES ES20845528T patent/ES3033959T3/es active Active
  • 2020-12-29 JP JP2022540546A patent/JP7714551B2/ja active Active
  • 2020-12-29 CA CA3163449A patent/CA3163449A1/en active Pending
  • 2020-12-29 EP EP20845528.7A patent/EP4085227B1/en active Active
  • 2020-12-29 KR KR1020227025749A patent/KR20220123253A/ko active Pending
  • 2020-12-30 TW TW109146948A patent/TWI764487B/zh active

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