Use of zirconium-palladium windows for the separation of tritium from the liquid metal breeder-blanket of a fusion reactor

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Sep. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/01496398308059926· OSTI ID:6294932

Buxbaum, R E

Any first generation fusion power reactor must be surrounded by a heat treansfer medium and a tritium breeder-blanket containing lithium in some form. Liquid lithium and liquid lithium alloys are considered to be particularly attractive choices for both purposes; the main disadvantage of these materials is the difficulty of tritium separation. The use of zirconium-palladium windows for tritium separations is shown to have many advantages over the best alternative devices. This is based on the materials properties and costs as they stand in 1983. The design of a typical permeation window resembles that of a shell and tube heat exchanger; liquid lithium or lithium alloy loaded with tritium from the reactor, flows through on the zirconium side of the window, while a purge stream of argon and oxygen flows through on the side with the palladium coating. Oxygen is present so that sufficiently low tritium pressures may be maintained on the downstream side of the window. Tritium is recovered as T/sub 2/O. Data are presented regarding the thermodynamics and the transport properties of tritium in lithium, in lithium-lead alloy, and in zirconium. Data are also presented for the reaction rate on a palladium surface. A permeation window is described; its cost is estimated to be $9,300,000 for use on a liquid lithium breeder-blanket or $1,100,000 for use on a lithium-lead alloy breeder-blanket. Some remaining problems are outlined.

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing
• OSTI ID: 6294932
• Journal Information: Sep. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Sep. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 18:12-13; ISSN SSTED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700206* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Environmental Aspects
ALKALI METALS
ALLOYS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BREEDING BLANKETS
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LEAD ALLOYS
LIGHT NUCLEI
LITHIUM
LITHIUM ALLOYS
METALS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OPENINGS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PALLADIUM ALLOYS
PERMEABILITY
PLATINUM METAL ALLOYS
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TRITIUM
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
TRITIUM OXIDES
WINDOWS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS