Upgrade of the Isotope Separation System at the Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe

A new hydrogen isotope separation column has been constructed, manufactured and tested with deuterium and protium. After successful commissioning tests the column was connected to the existing gas chromatographic Isotope Separation System within a glove box. It was demonstrated that equipment which has already been operated with large amounts of tritium can be opened without spreading excessive contamination if proper purging has been carried out before the breach of the primary system. Commissioning with deuterium and small amounts of tritium after the new column was integrated into the existing process circuit in the glove box confirmed the good separation of the new column already demonstrated before.