Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2006, Volume 9, Issue 17+18

Exergetic Analyze for the Cryogenic Cycle Uses Into the Experimental Pilot Plant for Tritium and Deuterium Separation

Abstract

In the nuclear reactors using uranium as fuel and heavy water as moderator, after a while, due to increased tritium concentration as result of neutrons capture on deuterium nucleus, we have to establish a set of measures to decrease the tritium concentration. The proposed models are addressed to high performance installations, especially to those from nuclear energetic field.

The most important part of the experimental Pilot plant for tritium and deuterium separation is module 300(cryogenic distillation of hydrogen/deuterium/tritium mixture). The principal goals on to that module are:

a) to insure and maintain the proper temperature for hydrogen condensation in the head of the distillation column;

b) to elaborate the high efficiency contact elements on hydrogen isotopes separation.

Therefore, to accomplish the task presented at the point a), the hydrogen distillation column condenser is cooled within a hydrogen cryogenic cycle which is insuring a level of temperature within 20-30 K, corresponding to the working pressure of the distillation column.