Method and apparatus for controlling accidental releases of tritium

Patent · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6821718

Galloway, T R

An improvement in a tritium control system based on a catalytic oxidation reactor is provided wherein accidental releases of tritium into room air are controlled by flooding the catalytic oxidation reactor with hydrogen when the tritium concentration in the room air exceeds a specified limit. The sudden flooding with hydrogen heats the catalyst to a high temperature within seconds, thereby greatly increasing the catalytic oxidation rate of tritium to tritiated water vapor. Thus, the catalyst is heated only when needed. In addition to the heating effect, the hydrogen flow also swamps the tritium and further reduces the tritium release.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4196176
• OSTI ID: 6821718
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420203* -- Engineering-- Handling Equipment & Procedures
ACCIDENTS
ATMOSPHERES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CATALYSTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERES
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
HEATING
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIGHT NUCLEI
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOISOTOPES
SAFETY
TRITIUM
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
TRITIUM OXIDES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES