Tritium release from bulk of carbon-based tiles used in JT-60U

Abstract

Tritium thermal release behavior from the isotropic graphite tile and the CFC tile used as the plasma facing material of JT-60U was experimentally examined. Whole tritium retained in the bulk of tile could not be released by dry gas purge at high temperature in such a period as one day. Utilization of the isotope exchange reaction using purge gas with hydrogen or humid gas was more effective to release the retained tritium. However, approximately 1% of retained tritium was not recovered by the isotope exchange reaction with dry hydrogen even though such high temperature as 1200 °C was applied. Combustion method with oxygen was required to recover all tritium left in the deeper site of the tile. It was observed that combustion of isotropic graphite tile and CFC tile became vigorous at higher temperature than 700 °C though the combustion rate was rather slow at 650 °C.