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US 10,940,437 B2Granted
Advanced tritium system and advanced permeation system for separation of tritium from radioactive wastes
AssigneeVeolia Nuclear Solutions, Inc.
InventorsMark S. Denton, Gaetan Bonhomme, Wesley L. Bratton, Nicephore Bonnet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid phase catalytic exchange column with a catalyst is configured to receive hydrogen gas. The system uses the catalyst to exchange the hydrogen gas with the tritiated source yielding HT gas and tritiated water. The system monitors tritium content of the tritiated water. When a predetermined tritium level is detected, the tritiated water is released. The system also includes a gaseous permeation system comprising a permeable barrier for the selective extraction of gases.
Claims29
A method for continuous low energy extraction of tritium from a tritiated source, comprising:
- transporting a first intermodal container including a first liquid phase catalytic exchange column to a site, the first liquid phase catalytic exchange column comprising a first catalyst, a first inlet, a second inlet, and a first outlet;
- transporting a second intermodal container including a second liquid phase catalytic exchange column to the site, the second liquid phase catalytic exchange column comprising a second catalyst, a third inlet, a fourth inlet, and a second outlet;
- transporting a third intermodal container including an electrolyzer to the site, the electrolyzer comprising an electrolyzer input and an electrolyzer output;
- using the first liquid phase catalytic exchange column, while supported by the first intermodal container, to:
- receive a first hydrogen (first H2) gas from the first inlet,
- receive the tritiated source from the second inlet, wherein the tritiated source comprises a first concentration of tritiated water,
- use the first catalyst to exchange protium ions in the first H2 gas with tritium ions in the tritiated source to yield tritiated hydrogen (HT) gas at the first outlet and a second concentration of tritiated water, wherein the second concentration of tritiated water is less than the first concentration of tritiated water,
- monitor tritium content of the second concentration of tritiated water with a first tritium monitor for a first predetermined level, and
- responsive to detecting the first predetermined level, release the second concentration of tritiated water to the second liquid phase catalytic exchange column,
- using the second liquid phase catalytic exchange column, while supported by the second intermodal container, to:
- receive the HT gas from the first outlet via the third inlet,
- receive the second concentration of tritiated water from the fourth inlet,
- use the second catalyst to exchange tritium ions in the HT gas with protium ions in the second concentration of tritiated water to yield a second H2 gas from a second outlet and a third concentration of tritiated water, wherein the third concentration of tritiated water is greater than the second concentration of tritiated water,
- monitor the tritium content of the third concentration of tritiated water with a second tritium monitor for a second predetermined level, and
- responsive to detecting the second predetermined level, release the third concentration of tritiated water to the first liquid phase catalytic exchange column, and using the electrolyzer, while supported by the third intermodal container, to:
- receive a portion of the third concentration of tritiated water at the electrolyzer input,
- split the third concentration of tritiated water into HT gas and oxygen gas, and
- release the HT gas from the electrolyzer output to the third inlet.
15 more elements
A method for continuous low energy extraction of tritium from a tritiated source, the method comprising:
- transporting a first intermodal container including at least one of a first liquid phase catalytic exchange column, a second liquid phase catalytic exchange column, and an electrolyzer;
- transporting a second intermodal container including at least another of the first liquid phase catalytic exchange column, the second liquid phase catalytic exchange column, and the electrolyzer;
- using the first liquid phase catalytic exchange column, while supported by one of the first intermodal container and the second intermodal container, to
- receive a first hydrogen (H2) gas and the tritiated source,
- exchange protium ions in the first H2 gas with tritium ions in the tritiated source, and
- yield tritiated hydrogen (HT) gas at a first outlet and a first concentration of tritiated water at a second outlet;
- monitoring tritium content of the first concentration of tritiated water with a first tritium monitor for a first predetermined level,
- responsive to detecting the first predetermined level, transferring the first concentration of tritiated water from the second outlet to at least one of the second liquid phase catalytic exchange column, the electrolyzer, and a first drain;
- using the electrolyzer to
- receive a portion of the first concentration of tritiated water at an electrolyzer input,
- split the first concentration of tritiated water into HT gas and oxygen gas, and
- release the HT gas from an electrolyzer output,
- using the second liquid phase catalytic exchange column, while supported by one of the first intermodal container and the second intermodal container, to
- receive the HT gas from the first outlet of the first liquid phase catalytic exchange column and the electrolyzer output,
- exchange protium ions of the first concentration of tritiated water with tritium ions in the HT gas, and
- yield a second H2 gas at a third outlet and a second concentration of tritiated water at a fourth outlet;
- monitoring tritium content of the second concentration of tritiated water with a second tritium monitor for a second predetermined level,
- responsive to detecting the second predetermined level, transferring the second concentration of tritiated water from the fourth outlet of the second liquid phase catalytic exchange column to at least one of the first liquid phase catalytic exchange column and a second drain.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.