Experimental verification of hydrogen isotope separation by pressure swing adsorption
- Faculty of Eng., Kyushu Univ., 744 Moto-oka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395 (Japan)
- National Inst. for Fusion Science, 322-6 Oroshi-cho, Toki-shi, Gifu 509-5292 (Japan)
- Faculty of Eng., Nagoya Univ., Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603 (Japan)
Focusing on synthetic zeolites that adsorb hydrogen isotopes at liquid N{sub 2} temperature with priority in the order of T{sub 2}, DT, D{sub 2}, HT, HD and H{sub 2}, we have been developing a pressure swing adsorption process system for hydrogen isotope separation. For this purpose, we carried out fundamental experiments of adsorption and desorption of a tracer D{sub 2} in bulk H{sub 2} with zeolite packed-bed columns. In this paper, the results are reported that D{sub 2} is enriched in the adsorbed phase at separation factors near 2.0, flowing through zeolite 5A and 13X packed-beds at 77.4 K. These are in agreement with values predicted from the multi-component equilibrium characteristics. In the gas samples recovered by evacuating the packed-beds, however, D{sub 2} was detected at a relative concentration of 1.20 or 1.32 to that in the feed gas. This lower range results from the isotopic mass effect in kinetic process. That suggests a highly D{sub 2}-enriched residual left during evacuation. This is verified with an unusually high enrichment factor of 6.68 or 9.21 for zeolite 5A or 13X measured in the residual sample desorbed from the packed-bed by heating up to room temperature. (authors)
- OSTI ID:
- 22116068
- Journal Information:
- Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 54, Issue 2; Conference: 8. international conference on tritium science and technology, Rochester, NY (United States), 16-21 Sep 2007; Other Information: Country of input: France; 5 refs; ISSN 1536-1055
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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