Chapter 5 - Separation of hydrogen isotopic mixtures with high tritium concentration

Abstract

Isotope separation system is a key element for successful operation of the fuel cycle of TNR. Specific feature of separation of hydrogen isotopes in the fuel cycle of TNR is to deal with feed streams of flow rate and composition varying in a wide range. Separation system has to produce all three isotopes with high isotopic purity. Performance of isotope separation system has strong influence on operation of other systems in the tritium plant, such as plasma purification system, storage and delivery system, and water detritiation system. Because inventory of mobilizable tritium and gaseous hydrogen in a single piece of equipment in ISS is likely be much higher than in other systems of fuel cycle, design and operation of ISS present major issue for fuel cycle of TNR to ensure meeting safety requirements. None of hydrogen isotope separation systems operated in the past or currently has been designed to meet set of the operational and safety requirements imposed by fusion TNR. Separation of mixture of hydrogen isotopes with high content of tritium requires working substances to be resistible to irradiation by β-particles of tritium decay. This narrows the choice of materials to molecular hydrogen or solids. To be applicable, separation technologies shall be based on use of those substances.