Experiment and simulation on Zr₂Fe bed for tritium capturing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering

Background:

• Zirconium (Zr) based alloys are essential for hydrogen storage and purification.
• Designing tritium extraction systems requires considering operating conditions and technical constraints for efficient hydrogen isotope capturing and recycling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally determine the breakthrough curve of a Zr2Fe alloy bed for hydrogen isotope capture.
• To develop and validate a numerical model for simulating hydrogen penetration through the alloy bed.
• To provide a basis for optimizing tritium capturing bed design.

Main Methods:

• Experimental setup: Single flowing bed with Zr2Fe alloy for 2.5%H2/Ar capturing at 300 °C and 200 sccm.
• Numerical simulation: Development of a model based on the mass conservation equation for carrier gas penetration.
• Data analysis: Comparison of experimental breakthrough curves with simulation results.

Main Results:

• Experimental breakthrough curve obtained for the Zr2Fe alloy bed.
• Numerical model successfully simulated the H2 concentration distribution along the reactor axis over time.
• Simulation predicted breakthrough at approximately 1.5 days, showing an 18% deviation from the experimental 1.27 days.

Conclusions:

• The developed numerical model provides a feasible approach for simulating hydrogen isotope capture in Zr-based alloy beds.
• The model's ability to predict breakthrough curves supports the optimization of tritium capturing bed design.
• Accurate modeling is crucial for efficient hydrogen isotope separation in nuclear applications.