Chengjian Xiao
China Academy of Engineering Physics, China
Title: Application of Cryogenic Preparative Chromatography in Hydrogen Isotopes Separation
Biography
Biography: Chengjian Xiao
Abstract
The separation of large-scale hydrogen isotopes is important in the process of nuclear fusion energy development and utilization. So far, there are few hydrogen isotope separation techniques suitable for industrial scale applications, and cryogenic preparative chromatography has advantages in terms of simple equipment, reliable operation, large separation factor, high product purity, and low retention of tritium. In this paper, a cryogenic chromatography method for reprocessing Tokamak exhaust gas is described. The experimental apparatus consists of a column with carbon molecular sieve used as exhaust storing and purification unit, four columns with 5A molecular sieve operated at the temperature of liquid nitrogen to adsorb hydrogen isotopes. In order to raise the efficiency and to shorten the total time of isotope separation and the total length of columns between two columns, a disproportionate equilibrator for isotope exchange of HD and HT was inserted. After passing through the cascade columns, the protium, deuterium and tritium are separated cleanly. The overall recoveries of deuterium and tritium for cleanup isotope separation procedure are greater than 97%, and the protium removing efficiency is larger than 98%. Further refining the process operating parameters, be able to get an ideal result, and is expected to meet the requirements of self-sustaining tritium fuel cycle.