Process and system for detecting and measuring a tritium gas leak

摘要

The present invention is a method and system for detecting and measuring a tritium gas leak. The method comprises collecting and concentrating any tritium gas escaping from a container in a reservoir over a predetermined time period. The concentrated gas sample is then directed to at least one of two detectors, a highly sensitive ion chamber or a highly sensitive proportional counter. The activity of the gas sample, as indicated by one or both of the detectors, is related to the concentration time interval to provide a measurement of sample activity accumulated per unit time. Calibration with a known tritium leak allows the sample activity per unit time to be read as a leak rate.