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Separation of Hydrogen Isotopes by a Flowing Bed Process

V.P. Singh

Fusion Science and Technology / Volume 14 / Number 2P2A / September 1988 / Pages 579-584

Tritium Processing / Proceedings of the Third Topical Meeting on Tritium Technology in Fission, Fusion and Isotopic Applications (Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 1-6, 1988) / dx.doi.org/10.13182/FST88-A25196

Results are presented on an experimental study of a flowing bed process for continuous hydrogen isotope separation. Separation performance was low with a 25% by weight palladium on alumina adsorbent, resulting in both a high adsorbent cost and tritium inventory. In addition, significant breakdown of the solid adsorbent occurred as it recirculated through the process equipment and the product streams were contaminated by the adsorbent carrier gas. Due to these problems, this flowing bed process is predicted to be uneconomic for a full scale plant.