Experimental Verification of Tritium Control by Glove-Box Containment

Concepts being developed for tritium containment at proposed fusion power plants will rely on existing laboratory experiences. The successful operation of a glove-box containment system was demonstrated by the control of an accidental release of 0.65 PBq (1.75 × 10⁴ Ci) of tritium to the glove-box atmosphere. The total gaseous release to the environment was 79 ± 10 GBq (2.2 Ci). In addition, the tritium concentration in the body fluids of the sole worker in the laboratory increased by only 74 kBq/ℓ (2 µCi/ℓ). The appearance rate of tritium in the room and the absorption of tritium by the worker were adequately described by permeation of the molecular species of T₂ and HTO through the gloves.