Apparatus to recover tritium from tritiated molecules
- Livermore, CA
An apparatus for recovering tritium from tritiated compounds is provided, including a preheater for heating tritiated water and other co-injected tritiated compounds to temperatures of about 600.degree. C. and a reactor charged with a mixture of uranium and uranium dioxide for receiving the preheated mixture. The reactor vessel is preferably stainless steel of sufficient mass so as to function as a heat sink preventing the reactor side walls from approaching high temperatures. A disposable copper liner extends between the reaction chamber and stainless steel outer vessel to prevent alloying of the uranium with the outer vessel. The uranium dioxide functions as an insulating material and heat sink preventing the reactor side walls from attaining reaction temperatures to thereby minimize tritium permeation rates. The uranium dioxide also functions as a diluent to allow for volumetric expansion of the uranium as it is converted to uranium dioxide.
- Research Organization:
- AT & T CORP
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4762685
- OSTI ID:
- 866673
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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600
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