Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2002, Volume 5, Issue 9+10

Design Analysis of Hydrogen Isotopic Exchange Column

Abstract

A rigorous calculation for the analysis of a hydrogen isotopic exchange column packed with a hydrophobic catalyst was carried out from the model equations, composed of a material balance and equilibrium relationships on the scrubbing and catalyst bed. The solutions were determined by using a successive iteration procedure and the parametric investigations were simulated for the effect of design and operating variables on the hydrogen isotopic composition within the column. It was observed that the maximum detritiation performance was obtained at the temperature condition giving an equi-molar composition ratio of the water vapor to the given hydrogen stream in the column. The optimum operating temperature should be chosen at the larger detritiation conditions giving a reasonable processing flow rate. In addition, this model was found to be useful for checking the column performance during operations.