Tritium measurement by isothermal calorimetry

Conference · Sat Feb 29 23:00:00 EST 1992 · Fusion Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5102156

Mason, J A ^[1]; Vasallo, G ^[2]

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1. Imperial College, Univ. of London, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire (GB)
2. Commission of the European Communities, JRC-Ispra Establishment, I-21020 Ispra (IT)

Calorimetry is a technique for measuring the thermal power of heat producing samples and it is widely used in a variety of measurement fields including chemical energy measurement, nuclear half-life determination and nuclear materials accounting and safeguards. This paper describes the design and proposed operation of a transportable isothermal tritium calorimeter for use as part of the measurement instrumentation of the JRC Ispra European Tritium Handling Experimental Laboratory (ETHEL). The advantages of the use of the instrument are discussed as are the issues of safety, measurement accuracy, measurement time and ease of use. Data are presented from measurements of low power plutonium samples (which simulate tritium calorimeter based on similar tritium in a uranium bed) using a plutonium calorimeter based on similar design concepts. The measurements correspond to tritium quantities ranging from less than 1 kCi (37 TBq) up to greater than 100 kCi (3.7 PBq or 10 grams).

• OSTI ID: 5102156
• Report Number(s): CONF-910920--
• Journal Information: Fusion Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Fusion Technology; (United States) Vol. 21:2; ISSN 0748-1896; ISSN FUSTE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
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700460* -- Fusion Technology-- Heating & Fueling Systems
ACCURACY
ACTINIDES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CALORIMETRY
DATA
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
EUROPE
Fu
Fuels-- (1992)
HEAT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INFORMATION
ISOTHERMAL PROCESSES
ISOTOPES
LABORATORIES
LIGHT NUCLEI
METALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OPERATION
PLUTONIUM
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
SAFETY
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
TRITIUM
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES