Inactive commissioning of a micro channel catalytic reactor for highly tritiated water production in the CAPER facility of TLK

In future DT fusion machines, several events will generate highly tritiated water (HTW). Among potential techniques for HTW processing, isotopic swamping in a catalytic membrane reactor (PERMCAT) appears promising. The experimental demonstration of PERMCAT for HTW processing has started in the CAPER facility at the Tritium Laboratory of Karlsruhe (TLK). Without any HTW source, such water has to be produced on purpose.Catalytic HT oxidation would ensure clean operation but could be critical for operation due to possible occurrence of explosive mixture. A tritium compatible micro-channel catalytic reactor (μCCR) has been designed and manufactured to produce up to 10 mL min−1 of HTW with very high specific tritium activity (stoichiometric DTO: 5.2 × 1016 Bq kg−1). Prior to its integration in CAPER for tritium operation, this reactor has been commissioned at different feed flow rates, gas composition (air or Helium), and temperature. The results demonstrate the good performances of the μCCR in producing water.The combination of the μCCR with the O2 sensor represents a reliable system able to produce HTW in a safe way and without radioactive waste. Accordingly, the CAPER facility can be upgrade in order to continue the R&D activity on HTW processing with PERMCAT.

► In a DT fusion machine several events will generate highly tritiated water (HTW).
► PERMCAT appears a promising process to recover tritium from HTW.
► In order to perform R&D activity on HTW processing with PERMCAT, such water has to be produced on purpose.
► A tritium compatible micro-channel catalytic reactor (μCCR) has been designed and manufactured to produce up to 10 mL min−1 of HTW with very high specific tritium activity.
► The paper presents the inactive commissioning of the μCCR required before the integration in CAPER facility.
► The combination of the μCCR with the O2 sensor represents a reliable system able to produce HTW in a safe way and without radioactive waste.