Heat exchanger whose hot end has a device for protecting the tube plate

A heat exchanger comprising an outer casing closed at its hot and cool ends by two tube plates, a cluster of tubes which is connected to the tube plates to discharge into inlet and outlet collectors of a fluid flowing inside the tubes, and inlet and outlet tubings of a liquid flowing in the casing and around the tubes, wherein the exchanger comprises at its hot end a device for protecting the tube plate, such device comprising two plates united by a casing to define a first zone filled with such liquid in the static state forming a thermal screen, such plates being substantially parallel with the tube plate and a first one of such plates being disposed adjacent the tube plate, the protective device also comprising passages extending through such zone from one plate to another, and means for setting up a negative pressure between such first plate and the tube plates, to ensure that such liquid flows towards the tube plate inside such passages. Special application to heat exchangers for steam generators with liquid sodium primary fluid.