Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2013, Volume 16, Issue 2

Balance and Control of Moisture in the Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Process

Sorin Gherghinescu * , Gheorghe Popescu , Ștefan-Ionuţ Spiridon

National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies - ICSI Rm. Valcea, Uzinei Street no. 4, PO Box Râureni 7, 240050, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania

*Corresponding author: Sorin Gherghinescu, E-mail: sorin.gherghinescu@icsi.ro

Published: October 2013


Abstract

Tritium removal/recover facilities involves step by step control of main operating parameters like gas flow, liquid flow, thermostatic working regimes, refrigeration power and also relative humidity in all the involved facility modules. Catalytic Isotopic Exchange module is characterized by the quality of the isotopic exchange process of hydrogen isotopes for countercurrent flow of hydrogen gas versus tritiated water through a catalyst packing. Moisture control in different system key points provides functioning stability and continuous adjustment of working parameters. Balance of relative moisture results in the optimization of catalyzed isotopic exchange process. The main measuring points for dewpoint determination are localized at the outlet of the condenser and molesieve adsorber unit of the isotopic exchange module. Experiments have been done for different temperature working regimes and vapours flows in the exchange column and the condenser. The liquid volume measured in the condenser provides valuable informations about moisture loadings of the adsorber. The molsieve packing unit has been tested in different regeneration stages and for different gas flow values. Experimental results shows the working diagram cycle for adsorber unit in continous adsorbtion/regeneration process. An dewpoint-meter was used for moisture measurement corelated with the measurment of the condensed volume of the vapours in the condenser. Obtained data can provide important information about the design principles that must be taken into account for optimal proportional dimensioning of the condenser unit, adsorber unit and isotopic exchange column.


Keywords

Relative moisture, molesieve adsorbtion/regeneration process, dewpoint measurement.


Tag search Relative moisture molesieve adsorbtionregeneration process dewpoint measurement