HTGR Knowledge Base

Conference Article: Development, construction and analysis of the URKO intermediate heat exchanger

Exner, R.; Podhorsky, M. (Balcke-Duerr AG, Ratingen (Germany))

Abstract

The objective of our development programme is to develop a functionally efficient He/He intermediate heat exchanger, capable for a heat transfer capacity of 125 or 170 MW and to prove its suitability by carrying out representative tests. As the vessel represents a barrier between the primary and secondary circuit the requirements to be met with regard to stability, reliability and availability of the components are particularly high. Special requirements arise as a result of the high application temperature up to 950 deg. C. The necessary service life of 140.000 hours. The high temperature transients and differential pressures to be expected during operation. The large wall thicknesses needed as a result of this in the high temperature section where the temperature gradients are significant. In addition to the requirements made by the plant itself both the economic efficiency and the ability of the vessel to gain approval had to be taken into account. Parallel to the detailed work on the U-tube concept a series of tests is being carried out to prove the safety of the concept and to optimize the components

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key words: Gas Cooled Reactor, Nuclear Technology
Reference:
Specialists' meeting on heat exchanging components of gas-cooled reactors Duesseldorf (Germany) 16-19 Apr 1984
International Atomic Energy Agency, International Working Group on Gas-Cooled Reactors, Vienna (Austria)
IWGGCR--9, pp:139-170