Overview of R&D at TLK for process and analytical issues on tritium management in breeder blankets of ITER and DEMO

• Published in: Fusion engineering and design Vol. 87; no. 7-8; pp. 1206 - 1213
• Main Authors: Demange, D., Alecu, C.G., Bekris, N., Borisevich, O., Bornschein, B., Fischer, S., Gramlich, N., Köllö, Z., Le, T.L., Michling, R., Priester, F., Röllig, M., Schlösser, M., Stämmler, S., Sturm, M., Wagner, R., Welte, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-08-2012
• Subjects: Breeder blanket; Catalytic membrane reactor; Design engineering; Fuel cycle; Management; Mathematical analysis; Membranes; On-line systems; Pd and zeolite membrane; Raman and BIXS spectroscopy; Recovery; Tracking; Tritium; Breeder blanket; Pd and zeolite membrane; Raman and BIXS spectroscopy; Catalytic membrane reactor; Fuel cycle
• ISSN: 0920-3796; 1873-7196
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2012.02.105

► We present advanced processes and analytics to improve tritium management. ► Membranes and membrane reactors can minimise tritium residence time and inventory. ► Spectroscopic methods can ensure on-line and near to real time tritium measurement.
Safe, reliable, and efficient tritium management in the breeder blanket will have to face unprecedented technological challenges. Beside the efficiency for tritium recovery from the breeder blanket (Tritium Extraction (TES) and Coolant Purification Systems (CPS)), the accuracy for tritium tracking between the inner and the outer fuel cycle must also be demonstrated. This paper focuses on the recent R&D carried out at the Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe to tackle these issues. For ITER, the recently consolidated TES and CPS designs comprise adsorption columns and getter beds operated in semi-continuous mode. Different approaches for the tritium accountancy stage (TAS) have been evaluated. Balancing static (batch-wise gas collection at the TBM outlets and the tritium plant) or dynamic (in/on-line) approaches with respect to the expected analytical performances and integration issues, the first conceptual design of the TAS for EU TBMs is presented. For DEMO, the overall strategy for tritium recovery and tracking has been revisited. The necessity for on-line real-time tritium accountancy and improved process efficiency suggest the use of continuous processes such as permeator and catalytic membrane reactor. The main benefits combining the PERMCAT process with advanced membranes is discussed with respect to process improvements and facilitated accountancy using spectroscopic methods.