Korea's progress on the ITER tritium systems

Abstract

Korea has been operating four units of CANDU nuclear power plant since 1983. Tritium generated in the heavy water of the plant has been removed by Wolsong TRF (tritium removal facility) since 2007. Korea has developed a 500-kCi BU-type tritium transport container. Furthermore, strictly controlled tritium release to the environment from the CANDU nuclear power plant in Korea will also be a helpful experience for ITER. The BU-type tritium transport container will be unpacked and the quantity of tritium in the metal tritides of the primary vessel will be measured accurately before the tritium is liberated by heating the metal tritides. In the ITER fuel cycle plant, Korea is responsible for the development and supply of the SDS (fuel storage and delivery system). We present the on-going R&D progress to use a non-nuclear material ZrCo for the storage and delivery of tritium. Especially we present the delivery characteristics of the ZrCo hydride bed by considering the fueling requirement and maintainability of the ZrCo hydride bed. We also present various test results for the experimental ZrCo beds and the test programs for the leak tight large scroll pump with a magnetic coupling-drive.