Development of a Tritium Monitor Combined with an Electrochemical Tritium Pump Using a Proton Conducting Oxide

Abstract

To fabricate a tritium monitoring system with electrochemical hydrogen pumping attached, a tritium monitor system was constructed and assembled with a commercial tritium monitor and an electrochemical hydrogen pump using a proton conducting oxide. The hydrogen pump with CaZr0.9In0.1O3−α as the proton conducting oxide was operated at 973 K under electrolysis conditions using tritiated water vapor (HTO). The tritium molecules (HT) were extracted and controlled by the applied current over a range of two orders of magnitude. The tritium molecules have an advantage with respect to the tritium memory effect in the monitor because the tritium contamination is reduced. Next, a system feasibility test was conducted under various water vapor partial pressure conditions. Thus, the measurement of the tritium concentration via this proposed system was successfully demonstrated.