Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2001, Volume 4, Issue 7+8

Mathematical Modelling for Water/Hydrogen Exchange Column in a Successive System Catalyst and Ordered Package

Abstract

The processes for hydrogen isotope’s separation are very important for nuclear technology. One of the most important processes for tritium separation, is the catalyst isotope exchange water-hydrogen. In a column of isotope exchange tritium is transferred from liquid phase (tritiated heavy water) in gaseous phase (hydrogen). We analyzed the transfer phenomena. The mathematical model presented in the paper allowed computing experimental data for testing the catalyst performances. The transfer equations are solved using the Runge Kutta method. In this way the speed constants which characterized the isotopic exchange on the catalysis bed k_s, and the distillation on the ordered package k_d, were expressed as function of experimental concentrations and hydrodynamic conditions.