Appendix for blanket - University of Wisconsin: tritium issues

The selection of the liquid metal alloys, Li17Pb83, as the tritium breeder with helium serving as the heat transfer fluid suggests two alternative techniques for the removal of tritium from the breeder. The low solubility of tritium in this liquid breeder requires only a simple vacuum degassing technique for tritium removal. Because of this high tritium partial pressure, tritium removal in the present design could potentially be achieved by either (a) slow circulation of the liquid LiPb alloy to an external degassing system, or (b) noncirculation of the liquid breeder so that the tritium permeates through the walls of the coolant tubes into the circulating helium for subsequent recovery. Both of these techniques were investigated with special attention given to the resultant tritium inventories in the liquid breeder and the helium system, and the potential for tritium permeation at the steam generator (SG)