Hydrogen extraction from Pb–17Li: results with a 800 mm high packed column

Abstract

Within the framework of the studies carried out for the development of a gas–liquid alloy contactor for the extraction of hydrogen from Pb–17Li, the behaviour of a 800 mm high packed column has been investigated on the Melodie loop. The previous contactor technology, a structured packing supplied by the Sulzer Company, has been retained since it had shown satisfying efficiency, likely due to the beneficial effect, on the mass transfer, of the liquid flow division that it involves. The best results of the present study have been achieved via a reduction of the liquid load on the packing: an efficiency of up to 30% was reached at 673 K for an inlet hydrogen pressure in Pb–17Li of 1000 Pa. The impact of the hydrogen pressure in the inlet Pb–17Li flow and on the extraction efficiency has been experimentally assessed: this study allowed us to evaluate the potential of the process in terms of packing height. Finally, a future experimental facility, which should allow us to observe the hydraulic behaviour of liquid mercury (simulating Pb–17Li) on the packing is presented.