Aspects of technology in the tritium industry

The importance of 'technological' components employed in processes involving the use of tritium, as compared to that of other items specific to the process, tends in general to be underestimated. It manifests itself mainly in terms of costs (capital and maintenance) and of safety performance. In order to optimize the cost/safety equation, therefore, very close attention has to be given to the selection and qualification of these components, with particular reference to: optimization of requirements, optimization of dimensions; standardization; quality assurance; reliability; maintainability; connections of control, instrumentation and data acquisistion systems; potential generation of waste (in normal use or on final dismantling). (author)