Performance Improvements of a Tritiated Water Recovery System

Tritium processing equipment is installed inside gloveboxes. Leaks of tritium are captured by a tritium stripping system using an oxidation-absorption process. Tritium is captured as tritiated water in zeolite beds and is recovered by desorption and reduction. The regenerated zeolite beds are reused. Reduction of the tritiated water is accomplished by a zeolite bed recovery system using hot magnesium beds. The system has been in operation for about 10 years and met original design requirements. Recent expansion of the facility requires a higher capacity of the system. Operation data are collected and analyzed. Ways to increase the system capacity are discussed.