Anti-vibration tube support plate arrangement for steam generators

A tube and shell steam generator having a primary side for circulating a heated fluid and a secondary side having an axial dimension, for circulating a fluid to be heated by the heated fluid circulating in the primary side, comprising:

• a channel head for receiving the heated fluid;
• a tube sheet that separates the channel head from the secondary side;
• a plurality of heat exchanger tubes that respectively extend from the channel head, through the tube sheet and through at least a portion of the secondary side;
• at least two, axially spaced tube support plates that are supported in the secondary side approximately perpendicular to the secondary side axis and have through holes that respectively surround at least some of the heat exchanger tubes extending into the secondary side and through which the corresponding heat exchanger tubes pass, with the holes surrounding each heat exchanger tube, of the at least some of the heat exchanger tubes, substantially, axially aligned when the steam generator is in a cold condition after having been placed in service;
• and
• a displacement mechanism responsive to an increase in temperature or pressure on the secondary side to laterally offset at least one of the tube support plates from one other of the tube support plates when the steam generator is in a hot condition to place a lateral load on the corresponding heat exchanger tubes sufficient to prevent lift-off.