Design and operating experience of EBR-II intermediate heat exchanger

Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) has operated for over 15 years at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory near Idaho Falls. EBR-II has served the nation in providing information on fuels, materials, and components under conditions approaching those expected for commercial power plants. In addition, EBR-II is a power plant generating electricity with an availability of about 70%. A key component, the Intermediate Heat Exchanger (IHX), of any Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) must perform with a high degree of reliability for successful commercialization. The design and operating experience gained from EBR-II demonstrates that the IHX can be built and operated with confidence that its performance and reliability will be satisfactory.