Modeling unusual tritium release behavior from Li2O

This paper presents a diffusion-desorption tritium release model in which the unusual tritium-release behavior observed in the CRITIC experiment is accounted for by an activation energy of desorption that is surface coverage dependent. Desorption and adsorption activation energies which are dependent on the amount of surface coverage have been reported. The current model is capable of reproducing both the unusual and the normal tritium release observed in CRITIC and predicts other regions where the surface-coverage-dependent release behavior may be observed. Results from the CRITIC experiment and our calculations imply that the details of the surface phenomena must be known to accurately predict the tritium inventory and changes in inventory that occur with changes in the breeder-material environment. 29 refs., 4 figs