US4173620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Extraction method of tritium
Assignee: Doryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan
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Filing: 1977-12-23
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Granted: 1979-11-06
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Expires: 1997-12-23
Abstract
Abstract An extraction method of a high purity tritium gas from tritium-containing heavy water is disclosed. Tritium-containing heavy water is led from a heavy water source into an exchange reaction column wherein the heavy water is brought into contact with a tritium-containing heavy hydrogen to thereby transfer tritium in the heavy hydrogen into the heavy water by way of the exchange reaction to obtain a tritium-enriched heavy water. The resulting tritium-enriched heavy water is then led to a heavy hydrogen gas generator such as an electrolytic cell to generate a tritium-enriched heavy hydrogen, a part of which is recycled to the exchange reaction column and the remaining part thereof is led into a hot-wire type thermal diffusion column, e.g. cascade to enrich tritium. The thus enriched tritium gas is withdrawn from the thermal diffusion column cascade. The tritium-depleted heavy hydrogen withdrawn from the exchange reaction column is burnt to produce a tritium-depleted heavy water which is then recycled to both the heavy water source and the exchange reaction column.
Inventors
- 👤 Masami Shimizu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:29
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B4/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of extracting tritium from tritium-containing heavy water which comprises: leading a part of the tritium-containing heavy water from a heavy water source to an exchange reaction column wherein the heavy water is brought into countercurrent contact with a tritium-containing heavy hydrogen to thereby transfer tritium in the heavy hydrogen into the heavy water by way of the exchange reaction; withdrawing the heavy water having an enriched tritium content from the bottom of said exchange reaction column and the heavy hydrogen having a reduced tritium content from the top of said exchange reaction column; leading the tritium-enriched heavy water to a heavy hydrogen gas generator to generate a tritium-enriched heavy hydrogen; recycling a part of the tritium-enriched heavy hydrogen to said exchange reaction column to carry out the countercurrent contact between the heavy water and the heavy hydrogen; burning the tritium-depleted heavy hydrogen withdrawn from the top of the exchange reaction column to produce a tritium-depleted heavy water; recycling the tritium-depleted heavy water to the heavy water source; p1 leading the remaining part of the tritium-enriched heavy hydrogen generated from the heavy hydrogen gas generator into a hot-wire type thermal diffusion colunm to enrich tritium; and withdrawing the tritium gas from the thermal diffusion column.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of extracting tritium from tritium-containing heavy water which comprises: leading a part of the tritium-containing heavy water from a heavy water source to an exchange reaction column wherein the heavy water is brought into countercurrent contact with a tritium-containing heavy hydrogen to thereby transfer tritium in the heavy hydrogen into the heavy water by way of the exchange reaction; withdrawing the heavy water having an enriched tritium content from the bottom of said exchange reaction column and the heavy hydrogen having a reduced tritium content from the top of said exchange reaction column; leading the tritium-enriched heavy water to a heavy hydrogen gas generator to generate a tritium-enriched heavy hydrogen; recycling a part of the tritium-enriched heavy hydrogen to said exchange reaction column to carry out the countercurrent contact between the heavy water and the heavy hydrogen; burning the tritium-depleted heavy hydrogen withdrawn from the top of the exchange reaction column to produce a tritium-depleted heavy water; recycling the tritium-depleted heavy water to the heavy water source; p1 leading the remaining part of the tritium-enriched heavy hydrogen generated from the heavy hydrogen gas generator into a hot-wire type thermal diffusion colunm to enrich tritium; and withdrawing the tritium gas from the thermal diffusion column.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said exchange reaction column is a column packed with a hydrophobic platinum catalyst, and the exchange reaction is carried out in the presence of the catalyst at room temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said heavy hydrogen gas generator is an electrolytic cell equipped with a diaphragm and generates the tritium-enriched heavy hydrogen by electrolyzing the tritium-enriched heavy water, the diaphragm preventing oxygen simultaneously generated from being admixed with the heavy hydrogen generated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said burning of the tritium-depleted heavy hydrogen is carried out in the presence of a platinum or palladium catalyst to allow the tritium-depleted heavy hydrogen to react with oxygen at a temperature below 50° C. under atmospheric pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein a heavy hydrogen having a lower tritium content than the tritium-enriched heavy hydrogen is recovered and withdrawn from the thermal diffusion column, and then recycled to the exchange reaction column.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein a part of the tritium-depleted heavy water produced by burning the tritium-depleted heavy hydrogen is recycled to the heavy water source and the remaining part of the tritium-depleted heavy water is recycled to the top of the exchange reaction column.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the heavy water source is a heavy water moderated reactor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein a thermal diffusion column is employed in a cascade arrangement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-11-05 | 1983-05-07 | 1983-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-05 | 1987-05-07 | 1987-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-05 | 1991-05-07 | 1991-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |