Accounting and control of tritium at the Tritium Process Laboratory (TPL) of JAERI; Results of 15-year operation and research activity

Nishi, Masataka; Yamanishi, Toshihiko; Hayashi, Takumi; Yamada, Masayuki; Suzuki, Takumi

Research and development work of fuel processing technology and tritium safe-handling technology for fusion reactors has been performed at the Tritium Process Laboratory (TPL) of JAERI. The TPL is the first facility in Japan permitted to handle tritium of more than 1g (about 0.36PBq), and its operation itself is also important for the development of fusion reactor facility in the viewpoint of tritium control. Various experiments have been performed at the TPL safely since 1988 controlling 22PBq of tritium as the maximum observing regulations. In addition to the regulatory control, detailed independent control in the TPL was planned and was established through its 15-year safe-operation. For future fusion fuel facility where kilograms of tritium will be handled, method of tritium accounting has been researched and some new techniques have been developed at the TPL. The results of the TPL operation and of the research activity in it, which contributed the completion of the engineering design of the ITER, are summarized in this paper together with the subjects to be reserched.