An innovative plate heat exchanger of enhanced compactness

Abstract In the framework of CEA R&D program to develop the Advanced Sodium Technological Reactor for Industrial Demonstration (ASTRID), the present work aims to demonstrate the industrial interest of an innovative compact heat exchanger technology. In fact, one of the main innovations of the ASTRID reactor could be the use of a Brayton Gas-power conversion system, in order to avoid the energetic sodium–water interaction that might occur if a traditional Rankine cycle was used. The present work aims to study the thermal-hydraulic performance of the innovative compact heat exchanger concept. Hence, thanks to a trustful numerical model, friction factor and heat transfer correlations are obtained. Then, a global compactness comparison strategy is proposed, taking into account design constraints. Finally, it is demonstrated that the innovative heat exchanger concept is more compact then other already industrial technologies of interest, showing that is can be considered to warrant serious consideration for future ASTRID design as well as for any industrial application that needs very compact heat exchanger technologies.

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