Direct Lit Electrolysis In A Metallic Lithium Fusion Blanket

Technical Report · Tue Oct 13 00:00:00 EDT 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1224027· OSTI ID:1224027

Colon-Mercado, H. ^[1]; Babineau, D. ^[1]; Elvington, M. ^[1]; Garcia-Diaz, B. ^[1]; Teprovich, J. ^[1]; Vaquer, A. ^[1]

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1. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)

A process that simplifies the extraction of tritium from molten lithium based breeding blankets was developed.  The process is based on the direct electrolysis of lithium tritide using a ceramic Li ion conductor that replaces the molten salt extraction step. Extraction of tritium in the form of lithium tritide in the blankets/targets of fission/fusion reactors is critical in order to maintained low concentrations.  This is needed to decrease the potential tritium permeation to the surroundings and large releases from unforeseen accident scenarios. Because of the high affinity of tritium for the blanket, extraction is complicated at the required low levels. This work identified, developed and tested the use of ceramic lithium ion conductors capable of recovering the hydrogen and deuterium thru an electrolysis step at high temperatures. 

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-08SR22470
• OSTI ID: 1224027
• Report Number(s): SRNL-STI-2015-00545
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English