Experimental studies of the transfer phenomena of tritium in an isotope exchange column for tritium recovery

To extract the tritium generated in the heavy water moderated power reactor, we have chosen the catalytic isotope exchange process in liquid phase combined with cryogenic distillation LPCE-CD. This paper presents the experimental studies of the catalytic isotope transfer of tritium. The catalytic isotope exchange process is performed in a column filled with successive layers of catalyst PT/C/PTFE and B7 type ordered package of phosphorous bronze. The catalyst and the package are manufactured in our institute and corresponding patents were issues. The catalyst consists of 95.5 wt.% PTFE, 4.1 wt. % carbon and 0.40 wt. % platinum and was made with 10'10'2 mm Raschig rings. The ordered package was consists of wire mesh phosphor bronze of 4'1 wire with a mesh size of 0.18 x 0.48 mm. The paper also presents the mathematical model which is used to evaluate the performance of the process. The mathematical model and the experimental data allowed determining two speed constants for isotope exchange process and for distillation process, respectively. By considering the values of these speed constants it is possible to improve the hydrophobic Pt catalyst and to design the H2/H2O isotopic exchange column package with this catalyst. (authors)