Outline of effluent tritium removal system

As for the nuclear fusion reactors which attract attention as the energy source of 21st century, the development competition is going on among advanced countries, that is, Japan, USA, European Community and USSR. The tritium process laboratory of Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute is the research facilities aiming at the development of the tritium process technology which becomes the base for establishing the fuel cycle of nuclear fusion reactors and of the techniques of safely handling tritium. In order to safely handle a large quantity of tritium, it is necessary to perfectly prepare a tritium storage and removal system, and the effluent tritium removal system (ERS) described in this report aims at reducing the release of tritium into surrounding environment. In the research and development of nuclear fusion reactors in Japan, by the completion of JT-60, the large proceed from the stage of plasma physics research to the stage of engineering is taking place, and aiming at the fusion experimental reactor planned as the next phase facilities, the establishment of the fuel cycle is an important subject. The construction of the tritium process laboratory was completed in fiscal year 1985, and the functional and characteristic tests are under way. The purpose and system of the ERS, the operation mode and the components are described. (Kako, I.)