Geographically distributed tritium extraction plant and process for producing detritiated heavy water using combined electrolysis and catalytic exchange processes

摘要

A geographically distributed apparatus and process for detritiating heavy water is provided. The apparatus and process provide a remote site enrichment plant for producing an enriched stream of DT/D2 gas and a hydriding unit for forming a hydride of the DT/D2 gas for transportation. Pure tritium gas is produced at a local tritium extraction plant by reforming DT/D2 in a de-hydriding unit and passing the gas mixture through a chain of cryogenic distillation columns. The invention provides a safe and cost-effective method of detritiating heavy water.