US4849155A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and apparatus for decontaminating exhaust gas from a fusion reactor fuel cycle of exhaust gas components containing chemically bonded tritium and/or deuterium
Assignee: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
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Filing: 1987-02-27
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Granted: 1989-07-18
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Expires: 2007-02-27
Abstract
Abstract Process for decontaminating exhaust gas from a fusion reactor fuel cycle of exhaust gas components containing at least one heavy hydrogen isotope selected from tritium and deuterium in compound form, in which the at least one heavy hydrogen isotope is liberated from its compound, separated out from the exhaust gas and fed back into the fuel cycle, the compound form being at least one compound which is ammonia or a hydrocarbon, comprising: (a) converting the at least one heavy hydrogen-containing compound into its elements in the exhaust gas by cracking the at least one heavy hydrogen containing compound with a cracking medium to liberate the hydrogen isotope, (b) passing the liberated hydrogen isotope through a membrane to separate out the liberated hydrogen isotope from the flow of the remaining exhaust gas, and (c) discharging the remaining decontaminated exhaust gas into the surrounding air.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralf-Dieter Penzhorn
- 👤 Manfred Glugla
- 👤 Peter Schuster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:43
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21F; G21F9/00; G21F9/02; G21B; G21B1/00; G21B1/11; G21B1/115; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
Process for decontaminating exhaust gas from a fusion reactor fuel cycle of exhaust gas components containing at least one heavy hydrogen isotope selected from tritium and deuterium in compound form, in which the at least one heavy hydrogen isotope is liberated from its compound, separated out from the exhaust gas and fed back into the fuel cycle, the compound form being at least one compound which is ammonia or a hydrocarbon, comprising: (a) converting the at least one heavy hydrogen-containing compound into its elements in the exhaust gas by cracking the at least one heavy hydrogen containing compound with a cracking medium to liberate the hydrogen isotope, (b) passing the liberated hydrogen isotope through a membrane to separate out the liberated hydrogen isotope from the flow of the remaining exhaust gas, and (c) discharging the remaining decontaminated exhaust gas into the surrounding air.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
Process for decontaminating exhaust gas from a fusion reactor fuel cycle of exhaust gas components containing at least one heavy hydrogen isotope selected from tritium and deuterium in compound form, in which the at least one heavy hydrogen isotope is liberated from its compound, separated out from the exhaust gas and fed back into the fuel cycle, the compound form being at least one compound which is ammonia or a hydrocarbon, comprising: (a) converting the at least one heavy hydrogen-containing compound into its elements in the exhaust gas by cracking the at least one heavy hydrogen containing compound with a cracking medium to liberate the hydrogen isotope, (b) passing the liberated hydrogen isotope through a membrane to separate out the liberated hydrogen isotope from the flow of the remaining exhaust gas, and (c) discharging the remaining decontaminated exhaust gas into the surrounding air.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the heavy hydrogen containing compound is ammonia, and a membrane made of palladium or palladium-silver alloy or an Ni-catalyst is used as a medium for cracking the ammonia.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the heavy hydrogen containing compound is a hydrocarbon, and an Ni-catalyst is used for cracking the hydrocarbon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the heavy hydrogen containing compound is ammonia and hydrocarbon, and an Ni-catalyst or a membrane made of palladium or palladium-silver alloy is used as a medium for cracking the ammonia, and an Ni-catalyst is used for cracking the hydrocarbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 4, wherein the cracking reactions of the ammonia and hydrocarbon occur in successive steps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process according to claim 4, wherein the cracking reactions of the ammonia and hydrocarbon occur in a common process step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
Process according to claim 1, comprising, before cracking the heavy hydrogen containing compound: selectively oxidizing the exhaust gas at an oxidation catalyst to oxidize CO into CO 2 , then bringing the exhaust gas into contact with an O 2 getter metal at a temperature of 200° to 400° C. to reduce water and remove O 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas contains ammonia and hydrocarbon and the membrane is made of palladium or a palladium-silver alloy which surrounds the catalyst, and further comprising carrying out the cracking reactions of ammonia and hydrocarbon at an Ni-catalyst on a ceramic catalyst support at a temperature of between 250° C. and 450° C., and heating the catalyst within the membrane simultaneously with the membrane to the reaction temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
Process according to claim 8, comprising, before cracking the heavy hydrogen containing compounds: selectively oxidizing the exhaust gas at an oxidation catalyst to oxidize CO into CO 2 , then bringing the exhaust gas into contact with an O 2 getter metal at a temperature of 200° to 400° C. to reduce water and remove O 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas contains ammonia and hydrocarbon, and the cracking of the ammonia and hydrocarbon is performed by contacting the exhaust gas with a hydrogen-isotope-permeable membrane and with an Ni-catalyst at temperatures of from 300° to 450° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
Process according to claim 10, comprising, before cracking the heavy hydrogen containing compounds: selectively oxidizing the exhaust gas at an oxidation catalyst to oxidize CO into CO 2 , then bringing the exhaust gas into contact with an O 2 getter metal at a temperature of 200° to 400° C. to reduce water and remove O 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas contains ammonia and hydrocarbon, and wherein the cracking is performed by first contacting the exhaust gas with a hydrogen-isotope-permeable membrane at a temperature of 300° to 450° C. to crack the ammonia, and then contacting the exhaust gas with an Ni-catalyst at a temperature of 300° to 450° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
Process according to claim 12, comprising, before cracking the heavy hydrogen containing compounds: selectively oxidizing the exhaust gas at an oxidation catalyst to oxidize CO into CO 2 , then bringing the exhaust gas into contact with an O 2 getter metal at a temperature of 200° to 400° C. to reduce water and remove O 2 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
145 words
Process for decontaminating exhaust gas from a fusion reactor fuel cycle of exhaust gas components containing at least one heavy hydrogen isotope selected from tritium and deuterium in compound form, in which the at least one heavy hydrogen isotope is liberated from its compound, separated out from the exhaust gas and fed back into the fuel cycle, the compound form being at least one compound which is water or ammonia or a hydrocarbon, comprising: (a) converting the at least one heavy hydrogen-containing compound into its elements in the exhaust gas by cracking the at least one heavy hydrogen containing compound with a cracking medium to liberate the hydrogen isotope, (b) passing the liberated hydrogen isotope through a membrane to separate out the liberated hydrogen isotope from the flow of the remaining exhaust gas, and (c) discharging the remaining decontaminated exhaust gas into the surrounding air.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
145 words
Process for decontaminating exhaust gas from a fusion reactor fuel cycle of exhaust gas components containing at least one heavy hydrogen isotope selected from tritium and deuterium in compound form, in which the at least one heavy hydrogen isotope is liberated from its compound, separated out from the exhaust gas and fed back into the fuel cycle, the compound form being at least one compound which is water or ammonia or a hydrocarbon, comprising: (a) converting the at least one heavy hydrogen-containing compound into its elements in the exhaust gas by cracking the at least one heavy hydrogen containing compound with a cracking medium to liberate the hydrogen isotope, (b) passing the liberated hydrogen isotope through a membrane to separate out the liberated hydrogen isotope from the flow of the remaining exhaust gas, and (c) discharging the remaining decontaminated exhaust gas into the surrounding air.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process according to claim 14, wherein the heavy hydrogen containing compound is water, and an O 2 getter metal is used to reduce the water.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-17 | 1993-01-16 | 1993-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-17 | 1997-01-16 | 1997-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-17 | 2001-01-16 | 2001-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |