refining device for helium coolants capable of continuous tritium recovery for use with HTGR type reactors

Purpose: To separate and recover hydrogen and tritium from helium coolants by a device comprising a tritium permeable metal film, a gas compressor and a recovery store container. Constitution: Impurity gas-containing helium sent from a primary helium coolant circuit exit of an HTGR type reactor to a helium refining system is introduced by way of a high temperature heat exchanger, a gas recycling device and a medium temperature heat exchanger to an absorber bed filled with absorber, where H2O and CO2 in the impurity gas-containing helium are removed. Then, Kr, Xe, Ar, O2, N2, CO, CH3 are removed and the remaining impurities, tritium and hydrogen, are introduced via each of heat exchangers into a tritium absorber bed. Then, they are permeated through a tritium permeable metal film, transferred to the low pressure side of a tritium permeation device and then compressed and stored in a tritium recovery store container by a gas compressor connected to the low pressure side. (Seki, T.)