Estimation of tritium inventory in a WDS using LabVIEW

Full text: Both, in fusion and fission reactors, the tritium appears to be a nuclear material of high importance that has to be carefully monitored in order to be properly controlled. The objective of the paper is to present an integrated system for tritium inventory estimation in the process, particularly to evaluate at different time intervals the tritium inventory in the Water Detritiation System (WDS). Using the commercial software LabVIEW a mathematical model was developed with a friendly interface for estimation of tritium inventory for all phases (liquid, vapor and gas). The application developed has a graphical interface that presents the tritium inventory at every major location (LPCE, CD, Storage). The results can be presented either as the total inventory or else for each phase of tritium (gas and water). Application can be improved and used for any facility that handles tritium, with some changes closely related to the technology used. For the future full implementation is intended for application of the tritium assay in a WDSs operated in CANDU NPPs or to ITER fusion reactors, if required. (authors)