Uranium Getters for Tritium Cleanup at the Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe (TLK)

Abstract

In a three-stage tritium cleanup system the gaseous impurities O2, N2, CO2, CO, CH4, NH3 and H2O are removed from a contaminated hydrogen stream. Cleanup is performed with uranium getters which operate at temperatures between 500°C and 900°C. In long term experiments carried out in the VERDI test facility a capacity factor of approximately 60% has been achieved so far. The impurities have been retained down to values between < 1 ppmv and 10 ppmv. The cleanup system for the Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe is presently under construction.