The Effects of Residual Tritium on Air-Detritiation Dryer Performance

The effects on the performance of an air-detritiation dryer (ADD) of inlet-gas humidity and residual tritiated water (HTO) left on the desiccant following regeneration were demonstrated. Residual HTO significantly reduced the detritiation factor (DF_SP) of an ADD from clean-bed values. In addition, HTO/H₂O separation occurred in the ADD, with H₂O leading HTO. HTO roll-up may also have occurred. Finally, an increase in the inlet-gas humidity at constant inlet HTO concentration decreased the DF_SP while increasing the humidity-reduction factor (HRF_SP).