Installation of LPCE (Liquid Phase Catalytic Exchange) Columns for the WTRF(Wolsong Tritium Removal Facility)

The tritium removal facility is under construction at Wolsong site in Korea. The main process of this facility is liquid phase catalytic exchange (LPCE) and cryogenic distillation. The overall WTRF (Wolsong tritium removal facility) design has been based on the several contractor's (AECL, KEPRI, KAERI, Kinectrics, etc.) experience on the heavy water detritiation and tritium handling over the past decades. The catalyst loading and installation of two LPCE columns has been completed on the 22nd of April, 2006. Each section of the LPCE columns consists of three parts: mass transfer packing bed, separate catalyst bed, and liquid distributor. The first column has 28 sections, a sump and a separate overhead condenser. The second column has 27 sections, a sump and a humidifier. The Sulzer CY packing for the vapor-liquid mass transfer is packed into the inner shell of each section and the wet proofed catalyst for the vapor-gas reaction is loaded into between the inner and outer shell. The liquid distributors are equipped on the Sulzer CY packing of each section. The helium leak test and performance test will be accomplished according to the WTRF construction -and- commissioning schedule. The WTRF is the first commercial facility applying LPCE process for the tritium removal. (author)