ZEOLITE CRYOPUMPS FOR HYDROGEN ISOTOPES TRANSPORTATION

Cryosorption pump is very convenient means for hydrogen isotope transp ortation, since a cryopump combines a vacuum pump, compressor and temp orary storage reservoir of hydrogen isotopes. We have studied zeolites as the cryosorbent for hydrogen isotope fore-vacuum pumping. The prot otype of the cryosorption pump was designed, made and tested. It is sh own that synthetic chabazite CaET-4B has the highest adsorption capaci ty in relation to hydrogen isotopes in the low pressure region. The eq uation of the adsorption isotherms was obtained. The results of the te sting and operation of the cryopump for hydrogen isotopes transport ar e described. The pump is simple, reliable and allows to reduce the los ses of deuterium and exclude tritium release to atmosphere and the for mation of tritium wastes.