Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation

RESEARCH ON NON STEADY STATE OF CATALYTIC ISOTOPIC EXCHANGE INSTALLATION

Anisia Bornea*, Marius Zamfirache

National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies - ICSI Rm. Valcea,

Uzinei Street no. 4, P.O. Box Râureni 7, 240050, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania

ABSTRACT

The catalytic isotopic exchange is an isotopic separation process which represent the front-end of LPCE-CD or CECE-CD detritiation technologies.

Separation by catalytic isotopic exchange is still of interest to the research field. Attention is directed mainly on the development of the catalytic packing, to increase the transfer efficiency, to improve the fluids distribution elements in order to ensure an efficient contact on the catalyst surface and also isotopic process optimization.

Of particular interest in the development and operation of detritiation plants is the knowledge of non-steady state regimes operating.

Commissioning of separation facilities such as catalytic isotopic exchange or cryogenic distillation is performed differently, covering distinct stationary regimes. As facilities are more developed, with more separation columns, the stationary regime can last longer. Their coupling also introduce non-steady state regime whose duration is highly dependent on their complexity and operating.

In this paper we intend to analyze the non-steady state regime of an experimental catalytic isotopic exchange plant.

The experimental plant is performed by coupling two columns that working at different temperatures. One of the columns is fed with tritiated water and aims the tritiation of gas that supply the second column. The second column is supplied with natural water and tritiated gas in countercurrent.

Was developed a mathematical model describing the isotopic exchange non-steady state regime within the two columns.

This paper presents a set of data gained through theoretical analysis of isotopic separation non-steady state regime.

Keywords: Detritiation, isotope exchange, tritium, catalyst, mathematical model.