CA1177226A - Tritium immobilisation - Google Patents
Tritium immobilisationInfo
- Publication number
- CA1177226A CA1177226A CA000402063A CA402063A CA1177226A CA 1177226 A CA1177226 A CA 1177226A CA 000402063 A CA000402063 A CA 000402063A CA 402063 A CA402063 A CA 402063A CA 1177226 A CA1177226 A CA 1177226A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- gas
- reactor
- tritium
- tritidable
- zirconium
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
Abstract Tritium immobilisation Tritium is immobilised for long term storage by absorption in a hydridable/tritidable material, such as zirconium. A gas permeable container is packed with the material in the form of sponge fragments, rods or tubes, and a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and tritium introduced into the container whilst the container is at a temperature of about 600°C or above. Thermal expansion of the material during reaction with the gaseous mixture compacts the material into a coherent body in the container relatively free from finely divided hydride/tritide material.
12925 AnH
12925 AnH
Description
7Z~
Tritium immobilisation This invention relates to the storage of radioactive waste, and in particular to the immobilisation of tritium for long term storage.
The accelerating expansion of national nuclear power programmes will lead to a corresponding increase in the amount of radioactive waste arising from these programmes.
Tritium in the form of low level tritiated liquid waste is one of the substances in such radioactive waste.
The invention therefore in a first aspect provides a - method of immobilising tritium for storage, the method comprising, reacting a gas comprising tritium with a tritidable material packed in a gas permeable container, at a temperature selected so that thermal expansion of the packed material during the reaction compacts the material into a coherent hody.
Preferably, the tritidable material comprises zirconium desirably zirconium sponge fragments, and the temperature is between 600C and 800C. Alternatively, the zirconium may be in the form of rod or tubing.
; The gas may comprise a mixture of hydrogen and tritium to form a tritiated hydride of said material, and the quantity of the gas may be controlled to achieve a selected molecular composition of the reacted material, so as to provide a selected volume expansion of the reacted material.
Conveniently, the container includes a gas permeable closure portion thereof, to allow the gas to flow therethrough to react with the material and to allow helium gas produced by radioactive decay of the tritium to vent from the material through the closure portion. Alternatively, or additionally if desired, the container may have another .' ' ' ~P
72~
portion thereof permeable to said gas.
It will be understood that the invention also includes in another aspect, a container having a gas permeable portion thereof and enclosing a coherent body comprising a tritide or a tritiated hydride formed therein by the method of the first aspect of the invention, and preferably the gas permeable portion comprises at least a part of a closure portion of the container.
In yet another further aspect of the invention, there is provided a plant for immobilising tritium by the method of the first aspect of the invention, the plant comprising, a - reactor for reacting a gas comprising tritium ~ith a tritidable material at a predetermined temperature, a ; respective vacuum chamber at an inlet and at an outlet of the reactor, adjustable obturator means between each vacuum chamber and the reactor, and a gas reservoir means for supplying the gas to the reactor.
The reservoir means may include adjustable obturator means for allowing a predetermined quantity of the gas to flow from the reservoir means to the reactor, and a compressor means may be provided for exhausting surplus said gas from the reactor.
- The hydrogen absorption kinetics of a metal with hydrogen are dependent upon the temperature, hydrogen pressure, and the physical and chemical structure both of the surface and the bulk of the metal. A metal will react with hydrogen only if the decomposition pressure of the hydride thereof at the reaction temperature is lower than the prevailing hydrogen pressure. For example, zirconium monohydride ~ZrH) which is a two-phase mixture of beta-Zr and gamma-ZrHx at relatively high temperatures, has a decomposition pressure of one atmosphere at 850C and, therefore, has a relatively large temperature range below the decomposition temperature for reaction to take place.
1177~6 Although the thermal stability of a hydride is an important parameter, its threshold temperat~re for oxidation in air is more important in the context of tritium immobilisation. In this respect zirconium hydrides are stable up to about 400C
but then show an increasing oxidation rate up to about 1000C, the oxidation rate being greatly affected by the form of the hydride, rod being considerably more stable than sponge.
The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 shows in median section a side view of a container packed with a hydridable material;
Figure 2 shows a flow sheet of a plant for the - 15 container of Figure l, Figure 3 shows the container of Figure 1 containing an alternative hydridable material; and Figures 4 to 6 are graphs showing the rate of hydridation reaction of Examples of hydridable materials.
Referring now to Figure 1, a stainless steel container 10 is shown which is of tubular form and has a closed end 12 and an open end 14. The container 10 at the cpen end 14 is internally threaded at 15 to to engage a correspondingly threaded plug 16, the plug 16 having an outer stainless steel casing 17 filled with an insert 18 of a gas permeable sintered metal such as "REDIMET"* to provide gas passageways through the plug 16. Fragments 19 of zirconium metal sponge are packed into the container 10 up to the bottom of the position occupied by the plug 16 in the container 10.
.
*Trademark .
1~77~
Referring now to Figure 2, a plant 20 is shown and comprises a reactor 22 joined at each end by a respective vacuum slide valve 24, 26 to an entry vacuum chamber 28 and a discharge vacuum chamber 30 respectively. A gas supply line 34 is connected through a valve 36 to a gas reservoir 38 which discharges through a discharge line 39 and a valve 40 to the reactor 22, the discharge line 39 being monitored by a pressure transducer 41. A return gas line 42 (indicated by a broken line) connects the reactor 22 to a compressor 44 arranged to discharge through a discharge line 46 (shown by a broken line) to the supply line 34. The entry vacuum chamber 28 and the discharge vacuum chamber 30 are connected in parallel to a line 48 leading from a manifold 50 to which an air line 52 and a vacuum line 54 are joined through respective valves 56, 58.
In operation, with valve 36 open and valve 40 closed, a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and tritium is fed through the supply line 34 to the reservoir 38. An aforedescribed container 10 packed with the fragments 19 of zirconium metal sponge and closed with the plug 16 is placed in the chamber 28. Valve 58 is then opened so that the chamber 28 is evacuated by the vacuum line 54 through the line 48, valve 58 then being closed and valve 24 opened. The container 10 is passed into the reactor 22 which has been preheated to a temperature of between 600C and 800C, valve 24 then being ; closed and another container 10 with fragments 19 therein being placed in the chamber 28. Valve 40 is opened for a period to allow a preselected quantity of the ; hydrogen/tritium mixture to flow from the reservoir 38 to the reactor 22, after which the valve 40 is closed again. The hydrogen/tritium mixture passes through the permeable insert 18 of the plug 16 and reacts with the fragments 19 of zirconium sponge in the container 10 to form a zirconium hydride/tritide. During this reaction, expansion occurs of the fragments 19 which are compacted by the constraint provided by the container 10 and the plug 16, so that~
~77~2~i intergranular sintering takes place of the æirconium hydride/
tritide which thus forms a coherent body. The decreasing hydrogen/tritium pressure in the reactor 22 is monitored by the pressure transducer 41 and when the reaction is completed, indicated by a steady pressure, valve 26 is opened and the container 10 passed from the reactor 22 into the chamber 30 to cool under vacuum conditions, valve 26 then being closed. The container 10 is then removed from the chamber 30, and the operating cycle repeated with the other container 10 in the chamber 28.
Any unreacted hydrogen/tritium that may remain in the reactor 22 may be removed through the line 42 by the compressor 44.
Although the operating cycle has been described in relation to reacting a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and tritium with the fragments 19 of zirconium metal sponge, tritium gas alone may be used.
The permeable insert 18 in the plug 16 allows helium formed by radioactive decay of the tritium in the zirconium tritide to vent through the plug 16, although the insert 18 may be dispensed with when a plug having a relatively thin gas permeable portion thereof (e.g. nickel) is used to allow the hydrogen/tritium and the helium to pass therethrough.
, Instead of packing fragments of zirconium sponge in the container 10, the container 10 may,be filled with alternative forms of zirconium metal, for example tubes or, as shown in Figure 3, with a parallel array of rods 60 of zirconium metal, the rods 60 being between 2 mm and 5 mm diameter and expansion of the rods 60 occurring d-uring the hydriding/tritiding reaction to compact the rods 60 into a coherent body.
The volume of the hydrogen/tritium gas admitted to the 72~,Çi reactor 22 may be selected to provide a desired molecular composition of the zirconium hydride/tritide, for example between ZrHl.2 and ZrH2, the latter composition having a volume expansion of twice that of ZrHl 2 during formation from the parent zirconium metal. Alternatively, the hydriding/tritiding reaction may be performed in an excess of the hydrogen/tritium gas.
In the aforedescribed operation of the plant of Figure 2 using fragments 19 of zirconium metal sponge, the hydriding/tritiding reaction proceeds rapidly in contrast to the relatively slow reaction that occurs when zirconium rod is used, as shown in the following examples:
Example I
sample - about 2 grammes zirconium metal sponge temperature - 800C
Gas - hydrogen (initial pressure 0.07 MPa, final pressure 0.053 MPa Hydride - ZrH2-x The results are shown in Figure 4 which represents time plotted against percentage reaction, from which it can be seen that 80% of the reaction occurs in about 2 minutes with the reaction being completed in about 7 minutes.
Example II
Example I was repeated but using zirconium rod in place of the zirconium sponge, the other parameters being the same as in Example I.
The results are shown in Figure 4, about 500 minutes ' ~ ~7~
being re~uired for completion of the reaction.
Example III
sample - about 0.5 grammes zirconium metal sponge temperature - 600~C
gas - aliquot of hydrogen to provide a zirconium hydride having a composition ZrHl 2 The results are shown in Figure 5 which represents time plotted against percentage reaction and pressure, 90% of the reaction being completed in about 7 minutes.
Example IV
Example III was repeated but using zirconium rod in place of the zirconium sponge, the other parameters being the - same as in Example III.
.
The results are shown in Figure 6 which represents time plotted against percentage reaction and pressure, about 97 hours being required for completion of the reaction.
It has been noted that relatively coarse-grained zirconium rod appears to be more reactive during the hydriding/tritiding reaction than fine-grained zirconium rod.
The tritium for immobilisation in the containers 10, may be produced from tritiated liquid waste by known processes which usually involve an electrolysis stage.
.
It will be understood that although the invention has been described in relation to the use of zirconium hydrides/tritides, other appropriate hydridable materials, ;
11~7226 for example titanium, may be used.
It will be appreciated that an advantage of the invention is that the formation of a coherent body in which the tritium is immobilised inhibits the dispersal of finely divided tritide material.
.
.
s
Tritium immobilisation This invention relates to the storage of radioactive waste, and in particular to the immobilisation of tritium for long term storage.
The accelerating expansion of national nuclear power programmes will lead to a corresponding increase in the amount of radioactive waste arising from these programmes.
Tritium in the form of low level tritiated liquid waste is one of the substances in such radioactive waste.
The invention therefore in a first aspect provides a - method of immobilising tritium for storage, the method comprising, reacting a gas comprising tritium with a tritidable material packed in a gas permeable container, at a temperature selected so that thermal expansion of the packed material during the reaction compacts the material into a coherent hody.
Preferably, the tritidable material comprises zirconium desirably zirconium sponge fragments, and the temperature is between 600C and 800C. Alternatively, the zirconium may be in the form of rod or tubing.
; The gas may comprise a mixture of hydrogen and tritium to form a tritiated hydride of said material, and the quantity of the gas may be controlled to achieve a selected molecular composition of the reacted material, so as to provide a selected volume expansion of the reacted material.
Conveniently, the container includes a gas permeable closure portion thereof, to allow the gas to flow therethrough to react with the material and to allow helium gas produced by radioactive decay of the tritium to vent from the material through the closure portion. Alternatively, or additionally if desired, the container may have another .' ' ' ~P
72~
portion thereof permeable to said gas.
It will be understood that the invention also includes in another aspect, a container having a gas permeable portion thereof and enclosing a coherent body comprising a tritide or a tritiated hydride formed therein by the method of the first aspect of the invention, and preferably the gas permeable portion comprises at least a part of a closure portion of the container.
In yet another further aspect of the invention, there is provided a plant for immobilising tritium by the method of the first aspect of the invention, the plant comprising, a - reactor for reacting a gas comprising tritium ~ith a tritidable material at a predetermined temperature, a ; respective vacuum chamber at an inlet and at an outlet of the reactor, adjustable obturator means between each vacuum chamber and the reactor, and a gas reservoir means for supplying the gas to the reactor.
The reservoir means may include adjustable obturator means for allowing a predetermined quantity of the gas to flow from the reservoir means to the reactor, and a compressor means may be provided for exhausting surplus said gas from the reactor.
- The hydrogen absorption kinetics of a metal with hydrogen are dependent upon the temperature, hydrogen pressure, and the physical and chemical structure both of the surface and the bulk of the metal. A metal will react with hydrogen only if the decomposition pressure of the hydride thereof at the reaction temperature is lower than the prevailing hydrogen pressure. For example, zirconium monohydride ~ZrH) which is a two-phase mixture of beta-Zr and gamma-ZrHx at relatively high temperatures, has a decomposition pressure of one atmosphere at 850C and, therefore, has a relatively large temperature range below the decomposition temperature for reaction to take place.
1177~6 Although the thermal stability of a hydride is an important parameter, its threshold temperat~re for oxidation in air is more important in the context of tritium immobilisation. In this respect zirconium hydrides are stable up to about 400C
but then show an increasing oxidation rate up to about 1000C, the oxidation rate being greatly affected by the form of the hydride, rod being considerably more stable than sponge.
The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 shows in median section a side view of a container packed with a hydridable material;
Figure 2 shows a flow sheet of a plant for the - 15 container of Figure l, Figure 3 shows the container of Figure 1 containing an alternative hydridable material; and Figures 4 to 6 are graphs showing the rate of hydridation reaction of Examples of hydridable materials.
Referring now to Figure 1, a stainless steel container 10 is shown which is of tubular form and has a closed end 12 and an open end 14. The container 10 at the cpen end 14 is internally threaded at 15 to to engage a correspondingly threaded plug 16, the plug 16 having an outer stainless steel casing 17 filled with an insert 18 of a gas permeable sintered metal such as "REDIMET"* to provide gas passageways through the plug 16. Fragments 19 of zirconium metal sponge are packed into the container 10 up to the bottom of the position occupied by the plug 16 in the container 10.
.
*Trademark .
1~77~
Referring now to Figure 2, a plant 20 is shown and comprises a reactor 22 joined at each end by a respective vacuum slide valve 24, 26 to an entry vacuum chamber 28 and a discharge vacuum chamber 30 respectively. A gas supply line 34 is connected through a valve 36 to a gas reservoir 38 which discharges through a discharge line 39 and a valve 40 to the reactor 22, the discharge line 39 being monitored by a pressure transducer 41. A return gas line 42 (indicated by a broken line) connects the reactor 22 to a compressor 44 arranged to discharge through a discharge line 46 (shown by a broken line) to the supply line 34. The entry vacuum chamber 28 and the discharge vacuum chamber 30 are connected in parallel to a line 48 leading from a manifold 50 to which an air line 52 and a vacuum line 54 are joined through respective valves 56, 58.
In operation, with valve 36 open and valve 40 closed, a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and tritium is fed through the supply line 34 to the reservoir 38. An aforedescribed container 10 packed with the fragments 19 of zirconium metal sponge and closed with the plug 16 is placed in the chamber 28. Valve 58 is then opened so that the chamber 28 is evacuated by the vacuum line 54 through the line 48, valve 58 then being closed and valve 24 opened. The container 10 is passed into the reactor 22 which has been preheated to a temperature of between 600C and 800C, valve 24 then being ; closed and another container 10 with fragments 19 therein being placed in the chamber 28. Valve 40 is opened for a period to allow a preselected quantity of the ; hydrogen/tritium mixture to flow from the reservoir 38 to the reactor 22, after which the valve 40 is closed again. The hydrogen/tritium mixture passes through the permeable insert 18 of the plug 16 and reacts with the fragments 19 of zirconium sponge in the container 10 to form a zirconium hydride/tritide. During this reaction, expansion occurs of the fragments 19 which are compacted by the constraint provided by the container 10 and the plug 16, so that~
~77~2~i intergranular sintering takes place of the æirconium hydride/
tritide which thus forms a coherent body. The decreasing hydrogen/tritium pressure in the reactor 22 is monitored by the pressure transducer 41 and when the reaction is completed, indicated by a steady pressure, valve 26 is opened and the container 10 passed from the reactor 22 into the chamber 30 to cool under vacuum conditions, valve 26 then being closed. The container 10 is then removed from the chamber 30, and the operating cycle repeated with the other container 10 in the chamber 28.
Any unreacted hydrogen/tritium that may remain in the reactor 22 may be removed through the line 42 by the compressor 44.
Although the operating cycle has been described in relation to reacting a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and tritium with the fragments 19 of zirconium metal sponge, tritium gas alone may be used.
The permeable insert 18 in the plug 16 allows helium formed by radioactive decay of the tritium in the zirconium tritide to vent through the plug 16, although the insert 18 may be dispensed with when a plug having a relatively thin gas permeable portion thereof (e.g. nickel) is used to allow the hydrogen/tritium and the helium to pass therethrough.
, Instead of packing fragments of zirconium sponge in the container 10, the container 10 may,be filled with alternative forms of zirconium metal, for example tubes or, as shown in Figure 3, with a parallel array of rods 60 of zirconium metal, the rods 60 being between 2 mm and 5 mm diameter and expansion of the rods 60 occurring d-uring the hydriding/tritiding reaction to compact the rods 60 into a coherent body.
The volume of the hydrogen/tritium gas admitted to the 72~,Çi reactor 22 may be selected to provide a desired molecular composition of the zirconium hydride/tritide, for example between ZrHl.2 and ZrH2, the latter composition having a volume expansion of twice that of ZrHl 2 during formation from the parent zirconium metal. Alternatively, the hydriding/tritiding reaction may be performed in an excess of the hydrogen/tritium gas.
In the aforedescribed operation of the plant of Figure 2 using fragments 19 of zirconium metal sponge, the hydriding/tritiding reaction proceeds rapidly in contrast to the relatively slow reaction that occurs when zirconium rod is used, as shown in the following examples:
Example I
sample - about 2 grammes zirconium metal sponge temperature - 800C
Gas - hydrogen (initial pressure 0.07 MPa, final pressure 0.053 MPa Hydride - ZrH2-x The results are shown in Figure 4 which represents time plotted against percentage reaction, from which it can be seen that 80% of the reaction occurs in about 2 minutes with the reaction being completed in about 7 minutes.
Example II
Example I was repeated but using zirconium rod in place of the zirconium sponge, the other parameters being the same as in Example I.
The results are shown in Figure 4, about 500 minutes ' ~ ~7~
being re~uired for completion of the reaction.
Example III
sample - about 0.5 grammes zirconium metal sponge temperature - 600~C
gas - aliquot of hydrogen to provide a zirconium hydride having a composition ZrHl 2 The results are shown in Figure 5 which represents time plotted against percentage reaction and pressure, 90% of the reaction being completed in about 7 minutes.
Example IV
Example III was repeated but using zirconium rod in place of the zirconium sponge, the other parameters being the - same as in Example III.
.
The results are shown in Figure 6 which represents time plotted against percentage reaction and pressure, about 97 hours being required for completion of the reaction.
It has been noted that relatively coarse-grained zirconium rod appears to be more reactive during the hydriding/tritiding reaction than fine-grained zirconium rod.
The tritium for immobilisation in the containers 10, may be produced from tritiated liquid waste by known processes which usually involve an electrolysis stage.
.
It will be understood that although the invention has been described in relation to the use of zirconium hydrides/tritides, other appropriate hydridable materials, ;
11~7226 for example titanium, may be used.
It will be appreciated that an advantage of the invention is that the formation of a coherent body in which the tritium is immobilised inhibits the dispersal of finely divided tritide material.
.
.
s
Claims (25)
1. A method of immobilising tritium for storage, the method comprising, reacting a gas comprising tritium with a tritidable material packed in a gas permeable container, at a temperature selected so that thermal expansion of the packed material during the reaction compacts the material into a coherent body.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the quantity of the gas is controlled to achieve a selected molecular composition of the reacted material, so as to provide a selected volume expansion of the reacted material.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the reaction is performed in an excess of the gas.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the tritidable material comprises zirconium, or titanium.
5. A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the tritidable material comprises zirconium, and the temperature is between 600°C and 800°C.
6. A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tritidable material comprises zirconium, and the temperature is between 600°C and 800°C, the zirconium comprising sponge fragments thereof.
7. A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tritidable material comprises zirconium, and the temperature is between 600°C and 800°C, the zirconium comprising a parallel array of rods or tubes.
8. A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tritidable material comprises zirconium, and the temperature is between 600°C and 800°C, the zirconium comprising a parallel array of rods or tubes, the rods or tubes being relatively coarse-grained.
9. A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tritidable material comprises zirconium, and the temperature is between 600°C and 800°C, the zirconium comprising a parallel array of rods or tubes, the rods or tubes being relatively coarse-grained and the rods or tubes being betweën 2 mm and 5 mm diameter.
10. A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the tritidable material comprises zirconium, and the temperature is between 600°C and 800°C and the molecular composition of the reacted material being between ZrH1.2 and ZrH2.
11. A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tritidable material comprises zirconium, and the temperature is between 600°C and 800°C, the zirconium comprising sponge fragments thereof and the molecular composition of the reacted material being between ZrH1.2 and ZrH2.
12. A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tritidable material comprises zirconium, and the temperature is between 600°C and 800°C, the zirconium comprising a parallel array of rods or tubes, and the molecular composition of the reacted material being between ZrH1.2 and ZrH2.
13. A container having a gas permeable portion thereof, and enclosing a coherent body comprising a tritide or a tritiated hydride formed therein by the method as claimed in Claim 1.
14. A container as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the gas permeable portion comprises at least a part of a closure portion of the container.
15. A container as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the gas permeable portion comprises sintered metal.
16. A container as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein a relatively thin portion of a metal comprises the gas permeable portion.
17. A container as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein a relatively thin portion of a metal comprises the gas permeable portion and wherein the metal comprises nickel.
18. A container as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the container is of tubular form.
19. A plant for immobilising tritium by the method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, the plant comprising, a reactor for reacting a gas comprising tritium or a mixture of hydrogen and tritium, with a tritidable material at a predetermined temperature, a respective vacuum chamber at an inlet and at an outlet of the reactor, adjustable obturator means between each vacuum chamber and the reactor, and a gas reservoir means for supplying the gas to the reactor.
20. A plant for immobilising tritium by the method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, the plant comprising, a reactor for reacting a gas comprising tritium or a mixture of hydrogen and tritium, with a tritidable material at a predetermined temperature, a respective vacuum chamber at an inlet and at an outlet of the reactor, adjustable obturator means between each vacuum chamber and the reactor, and a gas reservoir means for supplying the gas to the reactor, and wherein the reservoir means includes adjustable obturator means for allowing a predetermined quantity of the gas to flow from the reservoir means to the reactor.
21. A plant for immobilising tritium by the method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, the plant comprising, a reactor for reacting a gas comprising tritium or a mixture of hydrogen and tritium, with a tritidable material at a predetermined temperature, a respective vacuum chamber at an inlet and at an outlet of the reactor, adjustable obturator means between each vacuum chamber and the reactor, and a gas reservoir means for supplying the gas to the reactor and wherein compressor means are provided for exhausting surplus said gas from the reactor.
22. A plant for immobilising tritium by the method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, the plant comprising, a reactor for reacting a gas comprising tritium or a mixture of hydrogen and tritium, with a tritidable material at a predetermined temperature, a respective vacuum chamber at an inlet and at an outlet of the reactor, adjustable obturator means between each vacuum chamber and the reactor, and a gas reservoir means for supplying the gas to the reactor and wherein the compressor means is arranged to discharge the surplus said gas to the reservoir means.
23. A plant for immobilising tritium by the method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, the plant comprising, a reactor for reacting a gas comprising tritium or a mixture of hydrogen and tritium, with a tritidable material at a predetermined temperature, a respective vacuum chamber at an inlet and at an outlet of the reactor, adjustable obturator means between each vacuum chamber and the reactor, and a gas reservoir means for supplying the gas to the reactor, and wherein the reservoir means includes adjustable obturator means for allowing a predetermined quantity of the gas to flow from the reservoir means to the reactor and wherein means are provided for sensing the pressure of the gas in the reactor.
24. A plant for immobilising tritium by the method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, the plant comprising, a reactor for reacting a gas comprising tritium or a mixture of hydrogen and tritium, with a tritidable material at a predetermined temperature, a respective vacuum chamber at an inlet and at an outlet of the reactor, adjustable obturator means between each vacuum chamber and the reactor, and a gas reservoir means for supplying the gas to the reactor and wherein compressor means are provided for exhausting surplus said gas from the reactor and wherein means are provided for sensing the pressure of the gas in the reactor.
25. A plant for immobilising tritium by the method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, the plant comprising, a reactor for reacting a gas comprising tritium or a mixture of hydrogen and tritium, with a tritidable material at a predetermined temperature, a respective vacuum chamber at an inlet and at an outlet of the reactor, adjustable obturator means between each vacuum chamber and the reactor, and a gas reservoir means for supplying the gas to the reactor and wherein the compressor means is arranged to discharge the surplus said gas to the reservoir means and wherein means are provided for sensing the pressure of the gas in the reactor.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8113593 | 1981-05-01 | ||
| GB8113593 | 1981-05-01 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1177226A true CA1177226A (en) | 1984-11-06 |
Family
ID=10521555
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000402063A Expired CA1177226A (en) | 1981-05-01 | 1982-04-30 | Tritium immobilisation |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1177226A (en) |
-
1982
- 1982-04-30 CA CA000402063A patent/CA1177226A/en not_active Expired
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