Method and apparatus for controlling accidental releases of tritium

Patent · Mon Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:7143552

Galloway, T R

An improvement is described in a tritium control system based on a catalytic oxidation reactor 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. 1 fig.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 4196176
• Application Number: PPN: US 5-930629
• OSTI ID: 7143552
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CATALYSTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL
ELEMENTS
ENTHALPY
HEATING
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTION HEAT
SYNTHESIS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRITIUM
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
TRITIUM OXIDES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES