Multi-material printed heat exchanger produced by diffusion bonding
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsCory A. STANSBURY, Michael R. ICKES
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heat exchanger for a nuclear reactor is provided. The heat exchanger comprises a first layer for flowing a first process fluid and a second layer for flowing a second process fluid. The first layer is comprised of a first material and the second layer is comprised of a second material differing in composition from the first material. The first layer and the second layer are stacked on each other in a core of the heat exchanger and the first layer and the second layer are bonded to each other. A heat exchanger for a nuclear reactor and a method for producing a heat exchanger are also provided.
Claims20
A heat exchanger for a nuclear reactor, the heat exchanger comprising:
- a first layer for flowing a first process fluid, the first layer comprising:
- a first sheet;
- and
- a first formed plate defining a number of first flow channels therebetween, wherein the first layer is comprised of a first material;
- and
- a second layer for flowing a second process fluid, the second layer comprising:
- a second sheet;
- and
- a second formed plate defining a number of second flow channels therebetween, wherein the second layer is comprised of a second material differing in composition from the first material;
- wherein the first layer and the second layer are stacked on each other in a core of the heat exchanger, and wherein the first layer and the second layer are bonded to each other.
A heat exchanger for a nuclear reactor, the heat exchanger comprising a core, the core comprising:
- first layers for flowing a lead based fluid, each of the first layers comprising a first sheet and a first formed plate defining a number of first flow channels therebetween, wherein each of the first layers is comprised of a first material configured to be compatible with the lead based fluid;
- second layers for flowing a supercritical fluid, each of the second layers comprising a second sheet and a second formed plate defining a number of second flow channels therebetween, wherein each of the second layers is comprised of a second material incompatible with the lead based fluid;
- and
- wherein the first layers and the second layers are stacked in an alternating arrangement, and wherein the stacked first layers and second layers are diffusion bonded to one another.
A method for producing a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- providing a number of first layers and second layers, wherein the providing comprises:
- arranging a first flat sheet and a first formed plate to provide a first layer, wherein the first formed plate and the first flat sheet define a number of first flow channels therebetween, wherein the first flat sheet and the first formed plate are comprised of a first composition;
- and
- arranging a second flat sheet and a second formed plate to provide a second layer, wherein the second formed plate and the second flat sheet define a number of second channels therebetween, wherein the second flat sheet and the second formed plate are comprised of a second composition;
- stacking each of the provided first layers and second layers in an alternating order;
- and
- diffusion bonding the stacked layers together to form a core of the heat exchanger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.