Hydrodynamic characteristics of mixed catalytic packing for heavy water detritiation

Abstract

The majority of technologies for tritium removal from heavy water, released within International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) or used in CANDU reactors are based on Liquid Phase Catalytic Exchange (LPCE) between deuterium and tritiated water. In LPCE process, the key role is played by a mixture between the hydrophobic catalyst and the hydrophilic packing in so – called “catalytic mixed packing”.A new improved and more compact mixed catalytic packing, has been developed at National Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technology, characterized and proposed to be used in the future Industrial Tritium Removal Facility for detritiation of heavy water from Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant. The paper, presents the main hydrodynamic characteristics of mixed catalytic packing, as: static and dynamic hold-up, voids fractions, pressure drop, water flowing aspects. All hydrodynamic characteristics are presented and discussed in close relation with operation parameters of LPCE column. Other important characteristics of the hydrophilic packing as wettability and textural properties of the hydrophobic catalyst are also showed. The knowledge of these characteristics, will facilitates the prediction of the fluids dynamic inside of LPCE columns for any Water Detritiation System. All these characteristics will be taken in consideration in designing process of the LPCE columns for the future Industrial Tritium Removal Facility.