Heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system

Abstract

A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system. The heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger body defining an exit plenum chamber therein shaped for uniform flow of a hot primary heat transfer fluid through the chamber. A plurality of adjacent heat transfer members are connected to the heat exchanger body and spaced apart by a predetermined distance for defining a plurality of flow passages between the heat transfer members. The flow passages open into the exit plenum chamber. Spacing of the heat transfer members by the predetermined distance evenly distributes flow of the primary heat transfer fluid through the flow passages, across the surfaces of the heat transfer members and into the exit plenum chamber. Each heat transfer member defines a flow channel therethrough for flow of a cooler secondary heat transfer fluid. Heat transfer occurs from the hot primary heat transfer fluid to the cooler secondary heat transfer fluid as the primary heat transfer fluid flows through the chamber and as the secondary heat transfer fluid simultaneously flows through the flow channel

1 .- 118 . (canceled) 
     
     
         119 . For use in association with a pool-type nuclear fission reactor capable of generating heat, a method of assembling a heat exchanger capable of being disposed in a pool fluid residing in the pool-type nuclear fission reactor, the heat exchanger capable of being disposed in proximity to an interior periphery of a pool wall confining the pool fluid, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving a heat exchanger body; and   (b) coupling means to the heat exchanger body for removal of the heat.   
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein coupling heat removal means comprises coupling a heat removal means configured to achieve a predetermined flow of a heat transfer fluid into the heat exchanger body. 
     
     
         121 . (canceled) 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein coupling heat removal means comprises coupling heat removal means having an enhanced heat transfer surface. 
     
     
         123 . (canceled) 
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein receiving a heat exchanger body comprises receiving a manifold-free heat exchanger body. 
     
     
         125 . For use in association with a pool-type nuclear fission reactor, a method of assembling a heat exchanger capable of being disposed in a pool fluid residing in the pool-type nuclear fission reactor, the heat exchanger capable of being disposed in proximity to an interior periphery of a pool wall confining the pool fluid, the method comprising receiving a heat exchanger body having a surface formed thereon defining a portion of a plenum volume. 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein the portion of the plenum volume defined by the surface formed on the heat exchanger body is capable of being occupied by a heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein the portion of the plenum volume defined by the surface formed on the heat exchanger body is capable of controlling flow of a heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein the portion of the plenum volume defined by the surface formed on the heat exchanger body has a predetermined shape for guiding flow of the pool fluid through the heat exchanger body. 
     
     
         129 . (canceled) 
     
     
         130 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein the surface formed on the heat exchanger body defines a portion of an inlet manifold associated with the portion of the plenum volume. 
     
     
         131 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein the surface formed on the heat exchanger body defines a portion of an outlet manifold associated with the portion of the plenum volume. 
     
     
         132 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein receiving the heat exchanger body comprises receiving a guide structure for guiding flow of the pool fluid. 
     
     
         133 . (canceled) 
     
     
         134 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein receiving a heat exchanger body comprises receiving a heat exchanger body having an inlet guide structure for guiding inlet flow of the pool fluid. 
     
     
         135 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein receiving a heat exchanger body comprises receiving a heat exchanger body having an outlet guide structure for guiding outlet flow of the pool fluid. 
     
     
         136 . (canceled) 
     
     
         137 . (canceled) 
     
     
         138 . (canceled) 
     
     
         139 . (canceled) 
     
     
         140 . (canceled) 
     
     
         141 . (CANCELLED) 
     
     
         142 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein the surface formed on the heat exchanger body has enhanced heat transfer. 
     
     
         143 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein receiving the heat exchanger body comprises receiving a manifold-free heat exchanger body. 
     
     
         144 . For use in association with a pool-type nuclear fission reactor capable of generating heat, a method of assembling a heat exchanger capable of being disposed in a pool fluid residing in the pool-type nuclear fission reactor, the heat exchanger capable of being disposed in proximity to an interior periphery of a pool wall confining the pool fluid, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving a heat exchanger body defining a plenum volume therein shaped for a predetermined flow of a heat transfer fluid into the plenum volume, the heat exchanger body having a surface formed thereon defining a portion of the plenum volume; and   (b) coupling a heat transfer member to the heat exchanger body, the heat transfer member defining a flow channel therethrough.   
     
     
         145 . The method of  claim 144 , wherein the portion of the plenum volume defined by the surface formed on the heat exchanger body is capable of being occupied by a heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         146 . The method of  claim 144 , wherein the portion of the plenum volume defined by the surface formed on the heat exchanger body is capable of controlling flow of a heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         147 . (canceled) 
     
     
         148 . The method of  claim 144 , wherein coupling a heat transfer member comprises coupling a heat transfer member configured to achieve a predetermined flow of a heat transfer fluid into the heat exchanger body. 
     
     
         149 . (canceled) 
     
     
         150 . The method of  claim 144 , wherein the surface formed on the heat exchanger body defines a portion of an inlet manifold associated with the plenum volume. 
     
     
         151 . The method of  claim 144 , wherein the surface formed on the heat exchanger body defines a portion of an outlet manifold associated with the plenum volume. 
     
     
         152 . (canceled) 
     
     
         153 . The method of  claim 144 , wherein coupling the heat transfer member comprises coupling a heat transfer member having a conduit extending along the flow channel. 
     
     
         154 . (canceled) 
     
     
         155 . (canceled) 
     
     
         156 . The method of  claim 144 , wherein receiving the heat exchanger body comprises receiving a manifold-free heat exchanger body. 
     
     
         157 . (canceled) 
     
     
         158 . (canceled) 
     
     
         159 . The method of  claim 144 , wherein said heat exchanger body has an inlet side, the inlet side being manifold-free. 
     
     
         160 . The method of  claim 144 , wherein said heat exchanger body has an outlet side, the outlet side having a manifold. 
     
     
         161 . The method of  claim 144 , wherein coupling the heat transfer member comprises coupling a heat transfer member having a wall defining an enhanced heat transfer surface thereon. 
     
     
         162 . For use in association with a pool-type nuclear fission reactor capable of generating heat, a method of assembling a heat exchanger capable of being disposed in a pool fluid residing in the pool-type nuclear fission reactor, the heat exchanger capable of being disposed in proximity to an interior periphery of a pool wall confining the pool fluid, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving a heat exchanger body having a surface formed thereon defining a portion of a plenum volume shaped for a predetermined flow of a heat transfer fluid into the plenum volume; and   (b) connecting a plurality of adjacent heat transfer members to the heat exchanger body, the plurality of adjacent heat transfer members being spaced apart by a predetermined distance for defining a plurality of flow passages between opposing ones of the plurality of adjacent heat transfer members for distributing flow of the heat transfer fluid through the plurality of flow passages.   
     
     
         163 . The method of  claim 162 , wherein the portion of the plenum volume defined by the surface formed on the heat exchanger body is capable of being occupied by a heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         164 . The method of  claim 162 , wherein the portion of the plenum volume defined by the surface formed on the heat exchanger body is capable of controlling flow of a heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         165 . (canceled) 
     
     
         166 . The method of  claim 162 , wherein connecting the plurality of adjacent heat transfer members comprises connecting a plurality of adjacent heat transfer members configured to achieve a substantially uniform flow of the heat transfer fluid into the heat exchanger body. 
     
     
         167 . (canceled) 
     
     
         168 . (canceled) 
     
     
         169 . (canceled) 
     
     
         170 . The method of  claim 162 , further comprising receiving a reactor vessel coupled to the heat exchanger body, the reactor vessel defining a portion of an outlet plenum volume of non-uniform shape. 
     
     
         171 . (canceled) 
     
     
         172 . (canceled) 
     
     
         173 . The method of  claim 162 , wherein connecting a plurality of adjacent heat transfer members comprises connecting a plurality of adjacent heat transfer members accommodating at least two heat transfer fluids having an orientation chosen from a cross-flow orientation, a counter-flow orientation, and a parallel-flow orientation. 
     
     
         174 . (canceled) 
     
     
         175 . (canceled) 
     
     
         176 . The method of  claim 162 , wherein connecting the plurality of adjacent heat transfer members comprises connecting at least one of the plurality of adjacent heat transfer members having a wall defining an enhanced heat transfer surface thereon for increased heat transfer through the wall. 
     
     
         177 . (canceled) 
     
     
         178 . (canceled) 
     
     
         179 . (canceled) 
     
     
         180 . (canceled) 
     
     
         181 . (canceled) 
     
     
         182 . (canceled) 
     
     
         183 . (canceled) 
     
     
         184 . (canceled) 
     
     
         185 . (canceled) 
     
     
         186 . The method of  claim 162 , wherein said heat exchanger body has an inlet side, the inlet side being manifold-free. 
     
     
         187 . The method of  claim 162 , wherein said heat exchanger body has an outlet side, the outlet side having a manifold.