PERFORMANCE OF A LI2ZRO3 SPHERE-PAC ASSEMBLY IN THE CRITIC-II IRRADIATION EXPERIMENT

The performance of a Li2ZrO3 sphere-pac assembly is being evaluated in a long-term, temperature-gradient irradiation experiment, CRITIC-II, After 100 full-power days of operation, the steady-state recovery rate remains at similar to 2 Ci/day (1 Ci = 37 GBq) with an edge temperatu re of 300 degrees C and the reference sweep gas of He/0.1% H-2. The te mperature gradient across the bed assembly is 650 degrees C. Tritium r elease and inventory changes are being monitored as a function of temp erature, sweep-gas composition, and irradiation time. Operation at a m inimum temperature of 200 degrees C resulted in an inventory build-up of 3.3 Ci after 15.8 FPD, with the tritium recovery rate approaching t he steady-state release rate. To date, the Li2ZrO3 sphere-pac assembly has demonstrated good performance as a candidate blanket material.