Study on the technology of CECE–GC system for water detritiation

Based on the thorough study of electrolysis enrichment, gas–liquid phase catalytic exchange, gas chromatography for hydrogen isotope separation, and hydrogen–oxygen recombination technologies, a CECE–GC prototype system with disposal capability of 10 ton/a of tritiated water was set up in the middle of 2004 at China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). It has successfully fulfilled the demonstration experiment of recovering deuterium from deuterium contained water and simulation operation of recovering tritium from tritiated water. Total concentration factor of CECE about 4, and the separation factor of tritium around 10 for operation time of 240 h with this system. The GC system of 50 m3/d has successfully recovered 90% hydrogen from 10 m3 tritiated hydrogen gas in 6 h and the tritium concentration in this part was depleted more than 1000 times. This experimental system served as an important step stone for further engineering works.