Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2019, Volume 22, Issue 2
Pages 5-12

Preliminary tests on a hydrogen isotope separation cryogenic facility, at the laboratory scale, within the ″cryogenic laboratory″ from ICSI Rm. Valcea

Abstract

The National R&D Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies - ICSI Rm. Valcea, through its research, has developed and confirmed the deuterium and tritium separation technology from deuterium and tritiated water, based on two combined processes: catalytic isotope exchange and cryogenic distillation. As a result of the experiments, carried out within the national interest facility, it was considered important to develop the capabilities of the institute in the field of cryogenics, with specialization for detritiation plants. In this respect, within the Cryogenics Laboratory from ICSI Rm. Valcea, activities are focus on complex detritiation processes, in terms of installation and the characteristics of the cryogenic cycles and the use of cryogenic products, as well as the experimental basis for the use of hydrogen isotopes separation, design of tritium containing equipment, materials and cryogenic equipment, etc.
In the Cryogeny Laboratory an experimental stand was created for the testing of a new cryogenic distillation column. The experiments were performed to verify its functioning at total reflux, without extraction. The future works will focus on developing a new equipments and packings configuration for compare the results for this packings with other packing (commercial and non-commercial), in order to determine the best solution for our setup.
The paper presents the stand and the tests performed in two experimental campaigns for testing of the cryogenics equipment and the ordered packing B5 type combined with hydrophilic plates with special geometry, developed by ICSI.

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