Overview of R&D activities on tritium processing and handling technology in JAEA

Yamanishi, Toshihiko; Nakamura, Hirofumi; Kawamura, Yoshinori; Iwai, Yasunori; Isobe, Kanetsugu; Oyaizu, Makoto; Yamada, Masayuki; Suzuki, Takumi; Hayashi, Takumi

In JAEA, the tritium processing and handling technologies have been studied at TPL. The main basic R&D activities in this field are: the tritium processing technology for the blanket recovery system; the tritium behavior in a confinement; and detritiation and decontamination. The R&D for tritium processing and handling technologies to a demonstration reactor (DEMO) are also planned to be carried out in the Broader Approach (BA) program in Japan by JAEA with Japanese universities. The ceramic electrolysis cell has been studied as a tritium processing method for the blanket system. The permeation behavior of tritium through pure iron into the gas containing water vapor has been studied. As for the behavior of high concentration tritium water, it was observed that the formation of the oxidized layer was prevented by the presence of tritium in water. Tritium durability tests were also carried out for the electrolysis cell of the chemical exchange column.