Modular Detritiation System - Detritiation System design and Manufacturing

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Used in active waste facilities, research establishments, nuclear facilities and fusion laboratories for removing tritium from light or heavy water and concentrating into reduced volumes. The modular detritiation system design is useful for reducing stored volumes of tritiated water, or for use with an isotopic separation system for complete removal of tritium and safe storage on getter beds. The system can also be used for heavy water upgrading.

Tyne performs detailed design, manufacturing, and commissioning of key systems including gloveboxes using Tyne's proprietary tritium-compatible seals, tritium monitors and ion chambers using Tyne's own design, electrolyzer subsystem, oxygen hydrogen recombiners, exchange columns and control systems.

Tyne has co-authored a number of scientific papers on tritium extraction plants including large scale light water detritiation for the damaged facility at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

• Extract tritium from light or heavy water
• Upgrade heavy water
• Nuclear or commercial pressure code compliance
• Turnkey modular design and build solutions
• Automatic operation / Continuous process
• Low pressure and temperature

The Concentrator is a part of the system for removal of tritium from water.  Purification is first required and achieved by electrolyzer conversion of water into hydrogen and oxygen gases.  The hydrogen, containing the tritium, is then passed through the Concentrator. Tritium rising with the hydrogen isotopes within the Concentrator columns is transferred to descending water, forming high concentrations in the bottoms water, releasing tritium-free hydrogen.  Tritium concentration is readily increased by 1,000 times or greater.

In the case of heavy water, the released deuterium gas will be recombined with oxygen to produce clean, upgraded heavy water.

Further treatment involves recirculating the concentrated tritiated water through the electrolyzer, and separating tritium from the gaseous hydrogen isotopes in an Isotopic Separation System. The isolated tritium can then be stored safely on getter beds.

Tyne has manufactured 37.5 mm dia and 100 mm dia columns for both light and heavy water. The stainless steel columns are different lengths depending on the degree of separation required. The column pumps, valves and automatic controls are operated from a glovebox located at the base of the columns.

Tyne can provide turn-key tritium extraction or heavy water upgrading solutions.